Pa. Rock Band's Data Center And Fiber Venture Think Loud Sees Little Progress update from January 2015

WAITING ON CEO COMMENTSProgress has been slow for Think Loud, a venture started by members of the band “Live”. The project was originally to build data centers in four Pennsylvania cities as well as a fiber line from New York to Northern Virginia totaling over 360 miles. The fiber network is expected to cost $200 million. However, Allentown, PA.’s Morning Call notes a lack of progress.

United Fiber & Data is working with Think Loud on the project. The majority of the network was expected to be in place in 2014, however only a 30 mile loop of cable around Lower Manhattan is currently live, activated in September. The plans have been revised, with 2 of the original 4 data centers cancelled and data center progress halted in general due to delays in the planned fiber lines. After a reported $24 million investment so far, there are no data centers and only 30 miles of fiber.

Tech ventures, particularly on the infrastructure side, are hard and expensive endeavors. The band’s involvement led to a high profile and higher expectations.

The initial announcement was made in March of last year, and the venture received a $5 million grant last July after applying for $10 million. At the time of the grant, CEO Bill Hines told Data Center Knowledge that the project was on track, with 18 miles of fiber laid in NYC and fiber being laid in NJ. The plan was to break ground on two data centers in 2014 as well, in York, PA. and Reading, PA.

United Fiber & Data owns land in Reading that was planned as a data center but that location is now apparently cancelled. Lancaster has also been cancelled.

Think Loud CEO and Founder Bill Hines told DCK that the plan was to break ground on 2 data centers in 2014. The York dispatch reported that a $30 million, 40,000 square foot data center in York was underway six months ago.

Part of the project’s appeal was potentially attracting high tech companies into towns with struggling economies through the data centers and network. The venture was founded as a way to give back to PA and help kickstart economies of formerly very-heavily industrial towns.

The fiber has not reached Pennsylvania. The band “Live” has invested tens of millions, reports Allentown, PA.’s Morning Call. Live is best known for a 90s album somewhat aptly titled “Throwing Copper”, which sold several million copies. The band released an album last fall after an 8 year release gap.