Fiber Optic Telecommunications Networks: Is the party over for Google?

James F. Booth

For more than 25 years, James Booth has provided consulting and legal services to telecommunications carriers and to enterprise companies that manage their own telecommunications networks. Since June of 2009 he has also served as General Counsel of Spread Networks, LLC, which is the industry leader in the construction and operation of low latency high speed networks. Before joining Spread he was General Counsel for OnFiber Communications, a competitive telecommunications provider, and was the sole attorney for Qwest Communications International in support of its construction of an 18,800 mile fiber optic network spanning the United States. Earlier he was lead counsel for U S WEST in its wireless and cable television ventures in the United States, Europe and Hong Kong.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Is the party over for Google?

Since it joined the stock market six years ago, on Aug. 19, 2004, Google stock has seen relentless growth. Its first trades went for about $100 a share, and that price was eclipsed quickly. Google /quotes/comstock/15*!goog/quotes/nls/goog (GOOG 462.02, -5.95, -1.27%) shares are up more than fourfold since that initial public offering. Of course, few have been sitting on Google for that run. And so far in 2010, investors don't have all that much to be happy about with Google stock. Shares are down 24% year-to-date, and 47% off all-time highs of about $740 in late 2007. Google closed out its sixth birthday trading around $470 and has failed to touch the $600 mark since early January.