Blacksburg and Virginia Tech plan to submit a joint application for Google's recent push to build ultra-high-speed fiber networks in the U.S.

If selected, Blacksburg would be the recipient of Internet speeds 100 times faster than what most Americans have access to today, according to a news release.

There are two steps to completing the "Google Request for Information," the government response and the community response. Both are due by March 26.

Residents, artists, businesses and community organizations are asked to fill out a short online form by visiting www.google.com/appserve/fiberrfi/public/options and clicking on "Nominate Your Community."

The form requires a name, city and state and a paragraph or more explaining why you would like to have Google locate in Blacksburg. Reasons could include the need for increased broadband access for business, education, arts, entertainment, telemedicine and emergency services, according to the news release.

A sample response can be found at blacksburg.gov/google.

There is also an opportunity for the community to participate in a YouTube video contest and an application naming contest.

The winning recipient of each will receive a $100 Downtown Blacksburg gift certificate. Details of the competition can be found at www.blacksburg.gov/google.

-- Sharla Bardin