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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'

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.

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

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