Economy

Google Fiber

On March 30, 2011, Google announced that it would bring its new high-speed fiberoptic network to Kansas City, Kan. Residents and businesses would be able to connect at a speed of 1 gigabit per second, 100 times faster than the average American's connection speed. In May 2011, the company announced that the service would be extended to Kansas City, Mo., as well. On July 26, 2012, Google announced that it would launch a television service along with the internet service. The announcement marked a six-week rally during which interested people can pre-register for Google's services. The next big date is Sept. 9, 2012, at which point the pre-registration period is over, and Kansas Citians who've secured the service can begin to schedule installations.

Google Fiber Announces 'Save The Date'

KCUR

Published July 18, 2012 at 10:33 AM CDT

Google Fiber's website revealed Wednesday that the project will launch in Kansas City on July 26. The short message also says that there will be an announcement on the 26th, and interested parties can sign up here to receive it via email.

News of Google Fiber since its initial announcement has been primarily speculation and rumor, and because the community is still unsure of the scope of the project and the opportunities it will provide, no concrete plans have been made for using its new services. Potential competitors like Time Warner have even solicited spies to try to get an inkling of how Google may change the infrastructural landscape in Kansas City.

Time will tell whether Google Fiber drastically transforms the way Kansas Citians teach their children and care for the elderly, or whether it simply dramatically decreases the loading time on cat-in-a-box videos, but the announcement was at least exciting enough to get social media atwitter with the news.

Google Fiber to launch next week: Google just sent out invitations to a “special event” in Kansas City on July 2... http://t.co/nlFebeQd
— Druid (@megastuffs) July 18, 2012

RT @broadbandtrends: Google Fiber to launch next week http://t.co/Cn5hX1w5 [sounds like a breakfast cereal!!] #GoogleFiber
— LYNDON JOHNSON (@lyndonJJ) July 18, 2012

Google Fibre looks very, very interesting - http://t.co/eHM3ScjA
— Henry Rothwell (@HenryRothwell) July 18, 2012

If you want to read & hear more of KCUR's Google Fiber coverage before next week's big announcement, refer below.

Google Fiber Coming Soon...So What? June 6, 2012, Up To Date
Free Wifi For Rosedale? June 26, 2012, KC Currents
New Google Fiber Hardware Possibly En Route To Kansas City June 5, 2012
High Speed Health: What Google Fiber Could Mean For Health Care January 30, 2012
Google Fiber: The New KC Infrastructure November 15, 2011, KC Currents
Google Fiber: A Creative Challenge For KC November 22, 2011, Central Standard
Techsperts: Gigabit City, Google Fiber September 20, 2011, Up To Date
Why Did Google Choose KCK? April 4, 2011, KC Currents
Google To Make KCK Fastest Internet March 30, 2011
KCK Getting Googled March 30, 2011