[nostromo]

Friendly local government is a big factor.

For example: Google looked at Seattle's NIMBY laws regarding utility boxes on sidewalks (each requiring a lengthy community approval process) and said, "Nope!"

Seattle's new mayor is now looking how to streamline the process to make the city more Google friendly, should the opportunity arise again.

[techsupporter]

That rule (SDOT 2-2009) was repealed in October, 2014 and replaced with new, better requirements, including removing the "abstentions/no answer counts as a 'no'" when seeking a permit to place a cabinet, removing almost all restrictions on small-height cabinets, and stops owners of property adjacent to the easement from being able to block the entire process on their own.

http://www.geekwire.com/2014/seattle-approves-bill-allows-fi...

[dingaling]

> Google looked at Seattle's NIMBY laws regarding utility boxes on sidewalks (each requiring a lengthy community approval process)

Which is good, as sidewalks are for walking, not utility installation pads.

In much of the UK outside conservation areas BT has powers to install cabinets as it sees fit. Combined with utility poles there are now some pavements on my town impassable to prams.

[TorKlingberg]

The parent was downvoted, but this is actually true in the UK. The are utility boxes in some really strange locations. Such as a bicycle lane that runs straight into a box, then just continues on the other side.

[AlfaWolph]

The area of grass past the sidewalk is often part of the easement as well. That's where all the utility poles are set as it is.

[vijayboyapati]

Please Google, come back to Seattle! Pleaaaassseee!