Another local expansion into Gladstone, Mo.

2013-05-13T19:27:00.000-07:00

Recently, we’ve welcomed a handful of new Kansas City-area Google Fiber communities—and tonight we get to welcome yet another. The Gladstone, Missouri City Council just voted to bring Fiber to their city, too.

View Kansas City Areas Eligible for Google Fiber in a larger map

As we’ve said before, it takes awhile to plan, engineer, and start building our network in new communities, so it will still be some time before we can hook up our Gladstone customers. We’ll publish more info here as we have it.

Posted by Rachel Hack, Community Manager, Google Fiber

Grandview, Mo. — our newest Fiber community

2013-05-07T18:22:00.002-07:00

Tonight, the Grandview, Missouri Board of Aldermen voted to bring Google Fiber to their community. Grandview now joins the growing number of areas in and around Kansas City that will have the opportunity to get Gigabit Internet speeds (up to 100x faster than the average American broadband connection) with Fiber.

View Kansas City Areas Eligible for Google Fiber in a larger map

It will still be awhile before we can build Fiber in Grandview—we need to plan and engineer our network there first. We’ll be sure to post more information here as soon as we can!

Posted by Rachel Hack, Community Manager, Google Fiber

Welcome, Shawnee, Kansas!

2013-05-02T15:55:00.000-07:00

This evening, the Shawnee City Council voted to bring Google Fiber to their city.

Shawnee, which is right outside of Kansas City, is known as a tight-knit community and a great place to do business. We’ve also been impressed by Shawnee’s vision to keep their citizens informed and involved using the Internet. Recently, the City modernized their website, so that locals can easily access city info—from crime maps to fiscal reports to streamed audio of city council meetings.

This is a great example of how access to information via the web can help make communities stronger. Google Fiber—and widespread connectivity throughout Shawnee—will be a great complement to the great work the City is already doing.

We still have a lot of planning and engineering work to do before we’re ready to bring Fiber to Shawnee, so we don’t have an estimate for when service will be available yet. We’ll be sure to publish an update here as soon as we have it.

Posted by Rachel Hack, Community Manager, Google Fiber

El programa Get Your Business Online llegará a Kansas City

2013-04-24T11:13:00.000-07:00

El 97% de los usuarios del Internet buscan en línea para productos y servicios locales. Hay una gran oportunidad para atraer a nuevos clientes por medio del Internet, pero sólo el 44% de empresas pequeñas en Kansas tienen un sitio web o una presencia en línea. Google está ayudando a cambiar eso.

Este jueves, Google llegará a Kansas City con su programa Get Your Business Online para ayudar a las empresas pequeñas. Muchos piensan que tener una presencia en línea es muy complicado y costoso. El programa Get Your Business Online hace que sea rápido, fácil y gratis para que cualquier negocio lance su presencia en el Internet, desde ferreterías a escuelas de música.

En el evento, el equipo de Google ayudará a los empresarios locales a crear sus propios sitios web cortesía de Intuit. Los empresarios también recibirán un nombre de dominio personalizado, alojamiento en el Internet gratuito durante un año, un perfil de ubicación en Google Maps, herramientas, entrenamientos, y recursos gratuitos. Expertos de Google estarán disponibles para capacitar a los empresarios en Inglés y en Español sobre las mejores maneras de atraer a más clientes en línea.

Visite www.KansasGetOnline.com para más detalles sobre el evento y el programa. Si usted no puede asistir al evento, todavía puede obtener su propio sitio web y recursos gratuitos. Visite a la página web para obtener más información.

Posted by Carlos Casas, Kansas City Team Manager, Google Fiber

Kansas City, Get Your Business Online

2013-04-23T15:05:00.000-07:00

97% of Internet users look for local products and services online. This is a huge potential market for small businesses. Unfortunately, 44% of Kansas City small businesses don’t have a website or online presence. Google wants to help change that.

This Thursday morning, please join us at Google’s “Get Your Business Online” event, where you’ll be able to set up a free website and a personalized domain name for your small businesses in under an hour. Register on the GYBO website now.

At the event, Intuit will provide local businesses with a free website, and a team of Google experts will help participants build and design their sites. Businesses will also receive a customized domain name, free web hosting for one year, a local business listing on Google Maps and free tools, training and resources. Google experts will be on hand to train the business owners on how to reach more customers online in both English and Spanish.

Go to www.KansasGetOnline.com for details on the event and the program and to register (Missouri businesses welcome, too!). And if you're unable to attend, you can still get a free website. Whether you’re a mechanic, own a mail and copy shop, or have a hair salon, we hope you can attend!

Posted by Rachel Hack, Community Manager, Google Fiber

Google Fiber TV App for iPad is here

2013-04-23T09:11:00.001-07:00

Losing the TV remote just got a little less unsettling. As of this morning, our Google Fiber TV app is available for iPad owners.

For the past month, our Fiber TV customers have been able to control their TVs with any recent Android device. Using the Fiber TV app from the Google Play Store, they can search for programming, browse listings, and select shows or recordings with just the touch or swipe of a finger. Now, iPad users can enjoy this simple, intuitive experience, too.

Head over to the Google Play store or the Apple App Store to download the free app now!

Posted by Tim Jennison, Software Engineer, Google Fiber

Google Fiber—On the Silicon Prairie, the Silicon Hills, and now the Silicon Slopes

2013-04-17T12:39:00.000-07:00

Today the Google Fiber team is in Provo, Utah, where Mayor John Curtis just announced that we intend to make Provo our third Google Fiber City.

Utah is already home to hundreds of tech companies and startups, and many of them are based in Provo. In fact, the Provo area ranks second in the nation in patent growth, and is consistently ranked as one of the top places to live and do business in the U.S. We believe the future of the Internet will be built on gigabit speeds, and we’re sure the businesses and residents of Provo already have some good ideas for what they’d build with a gig.

In order to bring Fiber to Provo, we’ve signed an agreement to purchase iProvo, an existing fiber-optic network owned by the city. As a part of the acquisition, we would commit to upgrade the network to gigabit technology and finish network construction so that every home along the existing iProvo network would have the opportunity to connect to Google Fiber. Our agreement with Provo isn’t approved yet—it’s pending a vote by the City Council scheduled for next Tuesday, April 23. We intend to begin the network upgrades as soon as the closing conditions are satisfied and the deal is closed.

Provo started building their own municipal network in 2004 because they decided that providing access to high speed connectivity was important to their community’s future. In 2011, they started looking for a partner that could acquire their network and deliver an affordable service for Provoans. We’re committed to keeping their vision alive, and, if the deal is approved and the acquisition closes, we’d offer our Free Internet service (5 Mbps speeds) to every home along the existing Provo network, for a $30 activation fee and no monthly charge for at least seven years. We would also offer Google Fiber Gigabit Internet—up to 100x faster Internet than today’s average broadband speeds—and the option for Google Fiber TV service with hundreds of your favorite channels. We’d also provide free Gigabit Internet service to 25 local public institutions like schools, hospitals and libraries.

Over the next few days, we’ll be in and around Provo with Mayor Curtis, attending community meetings and talking to residents about what widespread gigabit connectivity could mean for their community, and the ways in which we’d invest in their iProvo network. If you are a Provoan, we hope to see you there! In the meantime, you can sign up on our website to get updates and more information.

Posted by Kevin Lo, General Manager, Google Fiber

Two new TV add-ons

2013-04-16T10:05:00.000-07:00

Jon Snow. Hannah Horvath. Sookie Stackhouse. If any of these names ring a bell for you, then you’re going to be very happy to hear that we’ve just added HBO to our TV lineup. Starting today, our Google Fiber TV customers will be able to add on our new HBO package to their plan for $20/month (plus tax). The plan will include HBO, HBO2, HBO Signature, HBO Family, HBO Latino, HBO Comedy, and HBO Zone.

And, for those of you who are holding out for Cinemax, today is your lucky day, too — you can add our brand new Cinemax package for $10/month (plus tax), and get eight new channels, including Max, MoreMax, ActionMax, ThrillerMax, WMax, @Max, 5-StarMax, and OuterMax.

If you really love TV and want both of these add-ons, we’ve just launched our new premium package, which you may want to consider. With the premium package, you can get STARZ, Showtime, HBO and Cinemax, all for $40/month (plus tax).

You can sign up for these packages starting now. If you already have Fiber service installed in your home, you can call customer service 24/7 at 866-777-7550 to have any of these packages added. Folks that haven’t been connected to service yet can sign up for these packages on our website or if you have any questions, you can always contact us.

Posted by Larry Yang, Head of Product Management

Eighteen New Fiberhood Deadlines

2013-04-12T15:35:00.000-07:00

Now that the snow has melted and the warmer weather is hopefully here to stay, we’re ready to roll out service even faster across Kansas and Missouri.

That’s why we’re announcing the deadlines for eighteen new Fiberhoods today. If you live in any of these fiberhoods, be sure to choose your Fiber plan soon, so that we can come connect you to Google FIber. If you’re not sure which fiberhood you belong to, just type in your address on our website, and your fiberhood info will pop up . As always, if you have any questions let us know!

Kansas Deadlines
Plaza at Speedway - Thursday, May 30
Stony Point - Thursday, May 30
Melrose - Thursday, May 30
Rainbow Ridge - Thursday, May 30
Pomeroy - Thursday, June 6
Southwest Boulevard - Thursday, June 6
Tauromee Ave - Thursday, June 6
Frank Rushton - Thursday, June 6
Washington High School - Thursday, June 6
Central Middle School - Thursday, June 6
North KU Med - Thursday, June 6
Bethel - Thursday, June 13
Community College - Thursday, June 13
Alvey Park - Thursday, June 20
Grinter - Thursday, June 20
White Church - Thursday, June 20
Eisenhower Park - Thursday, June 20
Grant - Thursday, June 20

Missouri Deadlines
Countryside - Thursday, April 18
Greenway Fields - Thursday, April 18
Wornall Homestead - Thursday, May 23
Crossroads - Thursday, May 23

Posted by Rachel Hack, Community Manager, Google Fiber

Google Fiber’s Next Stop: Austin, Texas

2013-04-09T09:13:00.000-07:00

We know that your time is valuable and so we’ve always focused on speed — from search to Gmail, Chrome to Android. Two years ago, we announced that we’d be bringing Google Fiber to Kansas City to show what’s possible with super fast Internet access, and since November we’ve been connecting homes there to gigabit Internet that’s 100 times faster than today’s average broadband performance.

Today, we’re pleased to announce with Mayor Lee Leffingwell that Austin, Texas is becoming a Google Fiber city. It’s a mecca for creativity and entrepreneurialism, with thriving artistic and tech communities, as well as the University of Texas and its new medical research hospital. We’re sure these folks will do amazing things with gigabit access, and we feel very privileged to have been welcomed to their community.

Our goal is to start connecting homes in Austin by mid-2014. Customers there will have a similar choice of products as our customers in Kansas City: Gigabit Internet or Gigabit Internet plus our Google Fiber TV service with nearly 200 HD TV channels. We’re still working out pricing details, but we expect them to be roughly similar to Kansas City. Also, as in Kansas City, we’re going to offer customers a free Internet connection at 5 mbps for 7 years, provided they pay a one-time construction fee. We’re also planning to connect many public institutions as we build in Austin— schools, hospitals, community centers, etc. — at a gigabit for no charge. If you live in Austin and want to sign up for more information, please visit our website.

The Internet is still in its early days and has so much more potential to improve our lives. The web helps students and families access essential resources, from information about jobs and healthcare to banking and educational services. Communities that are connected to the Internet grow stronger because there’s greater potential to create jobs, drive economic growth, and help businesses succeed. We believe the Internet’s next chapter will be built on gigabit speeds, and we hope this new Google Fiber city will inspire communities across America to think about what ultrafast connectivity could mean for them. If you’re a city leader and you’re looking for some help making your city gigabit-friendly, have a look at this video from the FCC’s March 2013 Workshop on Gigabit Community Broadband Networks for steps you can take towards your own gigabit-powered future.

Posted by Milo Medin, Vice President, Google Fiber

Introducing Google Fiber Poles

2013-03-31T21:38:00.000-07:00

It’s easy to get used to ultra-high speed Gigabit speeds. Websites load instantly, photos upload in seconds, and you never have to wait for web videos to buffer. That’s why, once you’ve used Google Fiber, it’s hard to go back to regular connectivity.

We’ve heard this feedback a few times from our customers in Kansas City; it seems that some folks have become hesitant to leave their home connections. They want to be able to have access to Fiber even when they’re out and and about in KC, not just within the confines of their own home.

So my team of engineers started thinking about possible solutions. How do you get a Gigabit everywhere in the community? We realized that the answer was all around us — utility poles. Poles already have our Fiber strung to them; all we had to do was come up with a way to make that Fiber accessible. That’s what we’ve done today. I’m happy to announce our newest project: Google Fiber Poles.

For more information, and to locate a pole near you, visit google.com/fiber/poles

Posted by Michael Plump, Product Lead, Fiber-to-the-pole

All about your new Google Fiber TV App

2013-03-21T10:25:00.001-07:00

Since last November, Google Fiber TV customers have been able to use their Nexus 7 tablet — which they get for free with their TV subscription — as their remote control. We’ve heard from our users that they love being able to browse shows and control their TV with their tablet. But we’ve also heard that sometimes, they’d like to be able to use the App on whatever device they have handy.

So our team started building an App that would let them do that. And last week, we launched a redesigned Google Fiber TV App on Google Play, that will work on any Android device running Version 4.1 or later. An iOS app is also coming soon.

I asked Stergios Anastasiadis, our Engineering Manager for the App, three questions about what the App can do.

Q: Stergios, what’s new about this version of the App? A: Well, you already hit on the fact that a lot more people, with a lot more devices, are going to be able to use the app. Personally, I really like being able to use my phone to control Fiber TV. Since I always have my phone in my pocket, it’s super easy and fast to find the show I want to watch, without needing to dig around for my remote, or wrestle my tablet away from my daughters.

Q: I know you guys spent a ton of time designing a new look for the App. Tell me a little about that process. A: Our new user interface, or “UI,” is built with one thing in mind — letting you find the shows you want to watch quickly. We’ve made our search button available from every screen in the app, so you’ll never have to search for “search.” You’ll also notice that images and text are more prominent on the screen, so that it’s easier browse through shows and movies quickly. My favorite part of the new design is that it now works in portrait mode — something that a lot of our users asked for, which is super useful when you’ve got a slice of pizza in your other hand.

Q: One big question. Why even bother with an app? A: There are two answers to this question. First, an app gives us the chance to build cool new TV experiences for you. For example, we’ve built a “watchalong mode,” which lists actor and show info on your tablet or phone while the show is playing. “Watchalong mode” puts you on the fast track to becoming a movie trivia buff — or at least will help you remember what that actor/actress’ name is.

Secondly, we want to make life easier for you. Using a traditional remote control is fine for quick tasks like changing channels. That’s why Fiber TV comes with a brand new, Bluetooth-enabled remote control. But remote controls aren’t always the best tool for browsing through your DVR library or searching for shows. The app makes these things easier and faster.

If you have Fiber TV, you can download our new App via Google Play. We’d love to hear your feedback and new feature suggestions, so let us know what you think by writing a review!

Posted by Larry Yang, Head of Product Management

Google Fiber is coming to Olathe, Kansas

2013-03-19T17:46:00.000-07:00

Over the past few months, as we’ve rolled out Google Fiber in Kansas City, we’ve heard from thousands of people from across the country. It seems that folks really want what KC has — a great startup scene, an inventive community, and access to Gigabit speeds.

Today, another city in the Kansas City area is getting the chance to join the growing Silicon Prairie — Olathe, Kan. A few minutes ago, the Olathe City Council approved an agreement to bring Google Fiber to their city. Olathe has become one of the fastest-growing cities in Kansas and has attracted an influx of new businesses and residents. They’ve all noticed what a great community Olathe is, and so have we. We think that Fiber and widespread Internet access will help to create jobs, grow local businesses, and make Olathe even stronger as it grows.

We still have a lot of planning and engineering work to do before we’re ready to bring Fiber to Olathe. Once we get those processes underway, we’ll be able to announce more about pre-registration and construction timing. We’ll be sure to publish an update as soon as we have it. This announcement doesn’t change our published construction schedule for eligible homes in Kansas City, Kan. and Central Kansas City, Mo.

Many thanks to the Olathe City Council and the people of Olathe for helping to make this happen. Hopefully, this is the first of several announcements that we'll be able to make about bringing Google Fiber to additional cities in the KC metro area; so stay tuned.

Posted by Rachel Hack, Community Manager, Google Fiber

What’s better than two dimensions...?

2013-03-07T13:16:00.000-08:00

When you turn on your Google Fiber TV, you should be able to kick back and relax with all of the TV programming that you love. That’s why Fiber TV comes with a comprehensive selection of channels, a Storage Box that you can fill with 500 hours of HD recordings, and a growing VOD library.

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again — we’re committed to making these qualities that you’ve come to expect from Google Fiber TV better and better. And, thanks to the amazing capacity of Fiber, we can also include some new experiences and tools that will make watching TV even cooler. For example, 3D channels.

Thanks to two great new channels, 3net and ESPN3D, our Google Fiber TV customers (who own 3D glasses and a 3D-capable TV) will now be able to watch 3D programming right in their living room.

Subscribers to our Gigabit + TV Plan will get 3net, which features an extensive library of original 3D programming, including natural history, documentary, action/adventure, kids and family, lifestyle and cuisine, concerts, movies, scripted series and more.

ESPN3D, the industry’s first 24/7 3D sports network, is now available through Google Fiber for $5/month (plus tax) with your Gigabit + TV plan.

Starting today, existing customers can find 3net on channel 338, and call us to sign up for ESPN3D.

Posted by Larry Yang, Head of Product Management

Kansas Reminders, and our First Missouri Deadlines

2013-02-04T08:08:00.000-08:00

There are some big deadlines coming up for our customers in the next fiberhoods in Kansas City, Kan. and, for the first time, customers in Kansas City, Mo., too!

As we've mentioned before, if you live in any of the next four Kansas City, Kan. fiberhoods, you need to select your Google Fiber service plan within the next few weeks in order to get Fiber service.

Today we’re also announcing the deadlines for our first eight Kansas City, Mo. fiberhoods — Crown Center, Midtown, Sunset Hill, South Plaza West, Countryside, Greenway Fields, Wornall Homestead, and Crossroads. Based on our construction timeline, these fiberhoods are scheduled to get Google Fiber this spring, so if you live in one of these areas, be sure to choose your Fiber plan soon! Not sure which fiberhood you belong to? Find out quickly, by entering your address on our website.

You can see the specific deadlines for each fiberhood below. And, as always, if you have any questions let us know!

Kansas Deadlines
Delaware Ridge - Thursday, February 14
Painted Hills - Thursday, February 28
Open Door - Thursday, February 28
Arrowhead - Thursday, March 7

Missouri Deadlines
Crown Center - Thursday, March 21
Midtown - Thursday, March 28
Sunset Hill - Thursday, April 4
South Plaza West - Thursday, April 11
Countryside - Thursday, April 18
Greenway Fields - Thursday, April 18
Wornall Homestead - Thursday, April 25
Crossroads - Thursday, April 25

Posted by Rachel Hack, Community Manager, Google Fiber

Coming soon: Fiber for five more fiberhoods

2012-12-17T09:01:00.001-08:00

About a month ago, we started installing Google Fiber in Kansas City homes. We started slowly in Hanover Heights and Dub’s Dread, bringing Fiber to a few homes each day. But now that we’ve gotten into a good rhythm of installations and customer support, we’re ready to pick up the pace.

In 2013, we’re going to hit the ground running, finishing installations in Dub’s Dread, and then quickly moving on to five more fiberhoods. Based on pre-registration results, the next fiberhoods on the list are Piper Schools, Delaware Ridge, Painted Hills, Open Door and Arrowhead. And we have some more good news for folks in some of these areas—we’ve extended a few fiberhood boundaries slightly, so that more people can get Google Fiber. You can see the new boundaries below and on our website, where you can check to see if your home is now eligible.

View Next Five Google Fiber Fiberhoods in a larger map

If you live in one of these fiberhoods and want Google Fiber, you must select your service plan by your deadline, listed below. We’ll start installing Fiber in your area shortly after the date listed.

Piper Schools — choose your plan by January 31, 2013

Delaware Ridge — choose your plan by February 14, 2013

Painted Hills — choose your plan by February 28, 2013

Open Door — choose your plan by February 28, 2013

Arrowhead — choose your plan by March 7, 2013

You can go to google.com/fiber right now to choose your plan—pick from our Gigabit + TV Plan, Gigabit Internet Plan or our Free Internet Plan. Can’t tell what you want from the website? Come visit us at the Fiber Space in Kansas City, where you can test out the Google Fiber experience.

This year, Google Fiber can be your ultimate stocking stuffer, your holiday gift that keeps on giving, your great start to a new year ... or just simply a great investment for you and your family.

Posted by Rachel Hack, Community Manager, Google Fiber

Google Fiber installations kick off today

2012-11-13T09:00:00.000-08:00

The title says it all! After months of building a brand new Fiber infrastructure, we’re excited to announce that today we’re officially starting to connect homes in Kansas City to Google Fiber.

We’ve been working in a few homes over the last few weeks to make sure we can deliver a great experience, and along the way we’ve thought a lot about what “great” might mean. We want it to take the amount of time we (and you!) think it’s going to take. We want to be able to explain what we’re doing in easy to understand language, so it makes sense to you and it’s not just tech jargon! And of course we’re aiming for “one and done”—one visit, everything working when we leave your home.

There are two stages to getting you connected. First, we'll pull your Fiber from the street to the side of your house; we’ve already done this for several houses in Hanover Heights. Then we'll get in touch with you to schedule the second stage, your in-home installation. We’ve put together a short video to help you understand what to expect.

If you live in Hanover Heights and see a new box on the side of your house (and have gotten a Google Fiber sticky note on your door), look for an email or phone call from us in the next few days to schedule an appointment. When the installer arrives, he/she will ask you about where you want your devices and then get to work.

We’ve found that the difference between dreading an installation and feeling like you had a good experience comes down to us caring about the details that matter the most to you. For example, we’ll show up when we’re supposed to—at the start of your appointment, not somewhere in the middle. We’ll clean up any mess; each installer carries a vacuum cleaner. And we’ll answer your questions and teach you about your devices—don’t be afraid to ask us questions, or to ask us to explain something again in simpler language.

We think that these small details can make your installation efficient, helpful and memorable. And, if you have any ideas or suggestions that would make it even better, let us know!

Posted by Alana Karen, Director, Service Delivery, Google Fiber

More channels for you

2012-11-12T07:00:00.000-08:00

The deadline for our Dub's Dread customers to select their Google Fiber service plans is coming up this Thursday, November 15th. So, to sweeten the deal even more, we're adding new channels to our lineup—again.

Whether you're searching for stock tips or workout tips; whether you're looking to check off your holiday shopping lists or looking for shows for the kids; whether you want to catch some football or some fútbol, we've got you covered.

BabyTV, Big Ten Network, Fox Business Network, Fox College Sports Atlantic, Fox College Sports Central, Fox College Sports Pacific, Fox Deportes, Fox Movie Channel, Fox News Channel, Fox Soccer, Fox Soccer Plus, FS Kansas City, Fuel TV, FX, HSN2, KPXEDT2 - Qubo, KPXEDT3 - ION Life, Nat Geo Mundo, Nat Geo WILD, National Geographic Channel, Speed, Utilisima

Posted by Larry Yang, Google Fiber Product Manager

A big week for Kansas City entrepreneurs

2012-11-08T09:24:00.000-08:00

Over the next week, some of the top entrepreneurs and techies from the midwest and beyond will be in Kansas City, Kan. and Kansas City, Mo. for Global Entrepreneurship Week. Global Entrepreneurship Week is an annual, week-long celebration of entrepreneurs, with hundreds of events around the world—so naturally, Kansas City, or the “City of Entrepreneurs” is participating. Global Entrepreneurship Week, KC starts today, and will include a wide variety of events, including networking sessions, workshops, talks and seminars.

As we’ve worked with the community to build Google Fiber in Kansas City, we’ve been inspired by the creativity and ingenuity of local entrepreneurs. So this year, we’re excited to participate in Global Entrepreneurship Week, KC by co-hosting three different events throughout the week. We’d love for you to join us at any of them.

Your life in the cloud
Have you ever wondered how you can use the cloud to make your life easier? Or even wondered what cloud computing is? Tomorrow we’ll be at the Compute Midwest Conference, where Brad Abrams, a Product Manager on our Cloud Platform Team, will give a keynote speech about the evolution of, and future of, Cloud Computing. Brad will talk about what the cloud computing means, how it works, and, most importantly, how you can use it in your life. You can RSVP for Brad’s talk (and many others) at the Kauffman Center for Performing Arts on Friday, Nov. 9th at 11:35 AM Central Time.

Develop the apps of the future
Hackers and developers from around Kansas City will gather together on Saturday morning, Nov. 10th, to kick off the first-ever hackathon in the Google Fiber Space. The Compute Midwest Hackathon, sponsored by Kansas City IT Professionals, is a 24-hour app-building challenge, where hackers compete to develop the best new app. We’ll have a Fiber connection available for any hackers who want to try out Google Fiber speeds, and there are prizes available for the winners. Hacker slots are sold out, but you can come see presentations of the apps on Sunday morning, Nov. 11th at 10:30AM Central Time at the Fiber Space.

Build your startup
Finally, next Tuesday, Nov. 13th, we’re partnering with the Kauffman Foundation to bring you a day full of workshops and trainings to help you build and grow a successful business with the web and mobile. During our Google for Entrepreneurs session, Google engineers and product experts will teach you about our platforms and tools that can help you create innovative applications and growing businesses. At the end of the day, we’ll have a networking and cocktail reception. Please RSVP if you’d like to join us.

Hopefully we’ll see you some time this week!

Posted by Rachel Hack, Community Manager, Google Fiber

Dub's Dread: Choose your service plan now if you want Fiber!

2012-10-18T07:01:00.000-07:00

Dub's Dread residents, it’s time to select your Google Fiber service plan. Since you’ll be our second area to get Google Fiber, our engineers need to start prepping your area for service. And, in order to do that, they need to know which homes to connect.

If you want Google Fiber, go to our website now and select your service plan. Remember, even if you’ve already pre-registered, you still need to go online and select which plan you want: TV + Gigabit Internet, Gigabit Internet or Free Internet.

This is important: If you haven’t selected your plan by November 15th, we will not build to your home at this time, and we don’t currently have plans to come back to Dub's Dread.

We also have some good news for some folks near Dub's Dread—we’ve extended Google Fiber eligibility to approximately 400 homes that weren’t originally included in the pre-registration rally. We had a ton of demand for service in the area surrounding Dub's Dread, so we’re extending the area’s boundary by a few blocks. You can see the new eligibility map below, or check your address on the Dub's Dread section of our website.

View Dub's Dread fiberhood boundaries in a larger map

Questions? Still trying to pick which service plan is best for you? Stop by the Fiber Space at 1814 Westport Road to experience Fiber first hand. If you have questions, give us a call at 866-777-7550.

Posted by Rachel Hack, Community Manager, Google Fiber

Want Google Fiber? Choose your plan now!

2012-09-25T11:11:00.001-07:00

As we approach our first signup deadline (October 2nd for those of you who live in Hanover Heights), here are a few quick reminders about how, when and where you can sign up for Google Fiber.

1. Anyone in a qualified fiberhood can get Google Fiber. Even if you didn’t pre-register for service, anyone in our 180 qualified fiberhoods can still sign up now.

2. Pre-registration is different than signing up. Pre-registration helped qualify your fiberhood for service—but to get service in your home, you need to choose your plan. If you haven’t gone to our website and selected which service plan you want (either Gigabit + TV package, Gigabit Internet plan, or Free Internet), you aren’t signed up for Google Fiber and you won’t get service. Head over to google.com/fiber to sign up now.

3. If you miss your fiberhood’s signup deadline, we can’t commit to building Google Fiber to your home. Once we build Google Fiber in your fiberhood, we won’t be coming back anytime soon—we have a lot of other people who want service, and we need to bring Google Fiber to their homes! So make sure you sign up soon and don’t miss your deadline. For those of you in Hanover Heights, this date is coming up in one week, on October 2.

So, how can you sign up for service? Just go to google.com/fiber, enter your address and follow the steps to select your service package. If you’ve already pre-registered, you don’t owe any money. If you never pre-registered, but your fiberhood is eligible for service, you’ll pay a $10 registration fee, which will go towards your first month’s bill.

If you want more information about our different service packages, you can visit our website or the Fiber Space in Kansas City, where you can enjoy Google Fiber live. Questions? Email us or give us a toll-free call: (866) 777-7550.

Posted by Rachel Hack, Community Manager, Google Fiber

Even more channels on Google Fiber TV

2012-09-14T10:00:00.000-07:00

We just opened signups for Google Fiber customers in Kansas City, Kan. and central Kansas City, Mo. And, for those who are considering our Google Fiber TV package, we’ve got some good news. In addition to the new channels we unveiled earlier this week, we’re announcing some more great ones today.

From news to sports; from cartoons to Spanish-language, here are our new channels: Boomerang, Cartoon Network, CNN, CNN en Español, CNN International, HLN, hTV, infinito, MLB Network Strike Zone (as part of an add-on package),TBS, TCM: Turner Classic Movies, TNT and truTV.

Posted by Larry Yang, Senior Product Manager, Google Fiber

Building 180 fiberhoods—construction order and signups

2012-09-13T12:54:00.000-07:00

The final count is in—after tallying some last-minute pre-registrations, we have confirmed that 180 fiberhoods throughout Kansas City will be wired with ultra high-speed Google Fiber.

We’re really excited about this for a few reasons. First, it means that residents in 89% of Kansas City, Kan. and central Kansas City, Mo. fiberhoods will be able to get brand new, next-generation Fiber connected to their home. One gigabit connectivity will have an immediate impact on our users—the web will be faster, TV will be clearer, and uploading and downloading will be super speedy. Not only that, but we fully expect that gigabit speeds will lead to a wave of online innovation, led by Kansas City.

But we’re also excited because... well, because you’re excited. Our network is entirely built by demand, and clearly, there’s a lot of demand. So, without further ado, we’re happy to announce that the first fiberhood to receive Fiber will be Hanover Heights in Kansas City, Kan. Hanover Heights was the very first fiberhood to qualify (within two hours of our July announcement), and they kept up the momentum over the six-week rally, pre-registering the highest percentage of households in Kansas City, Kan.

We plan to install Google Fiber for our first customer in Hanover Heights within the next few weeks, and then we’ll move on to other fiberhoods on the Kansas side. To give Kansas Citians an idea of when they’ll get Fiber, we’ve published this approximate construction schedule.

On the Missouri side, the first fiberhood to get service will be Crown Center, which pre-registered a whopping number of apartment buildings and condos. Right now we’re still busy deploying infrastructure in central Kansas City, Mo., and we’ll start installing Google Fiber to Crown Center residents and other Missouri fiberhoods next spring.

It’s important to note that our construction schedule isn’t set in stone—many factors, such as a harsh winter, may affect timing. But we plan to be as transparent as possible if our estimates change, and we’ll post any new information on our website.

So what’s next?

Sign up now for Google Fiber

Our pre-registration process helped us determine where to build Google Fiber. Now it’s time for the next step—signing up for your service plan.

Anyone in a qualified fiberhood can sign up for Google Fiber, regardless of whether you pre-registered or not. Here’s how:

Go to fiber.google.com and select “Sign up now.” On the next page, enter your address, and hit “Check Address” to confirm that your fiberhood is qualified. Select your service plan and any add-ons. Visit our website for more information about your options.
Sign in to your Google account. If you’ve already pre-registered for Fiber, sign in using the same email address you used to pre-register. If not, you can use an existing Google account, or create a new one.
If you haven’t already pre-registered, you’ll enter your billing information and pay your $10 pre-registration fee, which will be applied to your first bill. If you have already pre-registered, you don’t have to pay anything until you actually have service in your home.

If you live in a qualified fiberhood, you can sign up immediately. You’ll be able to sign up or change your plan until right before we begin installations in your fiberhood—and we’ll give you a heads-up when your signup window is running out. For Hanover Heights, you need to sign up by October 2nd.

If you want more information or advice about our service plans, or if you have any questions about the signup process, we’re always here to help via email, phone or chat. And, if you’re having a hard time deciding amongst the different service plans, you can stop by our Fiber Space at Stateline & Westport Rd. to try out all of the options.

Posted by Kevin Lo, General Manager Google Access

Update on the Google Fiber TV channel lineup

2012-09-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

Starting tomorrow, we’ll be kicking off the Google Fiber signup process. Kansas Citians in qualified fiberhoods will be able to select and sign up for their service plan, choosing between our Gigabit + TV plan, our Gigabit Internet plan and our Free Internet plan. These are three great options—so, to help people decide, we want to give a brief update on our TV offering

We just added a number of additional channels covering a variety of genres, including arts, family, faith, lifestyle and sports. Google Fiber TV service already includes almost two hundred channels, but we’ll continue to add more over time. And since our TV service runs on a gigabit network, we can offer access to all our HD channels for no extra charge.

Check back here tomorrow when we’ll share the final list of fiberhoods that have qualified for Google Fiber and the order in which they’ll be constructed, along with more details about how to sign up.

Newly Added Channels:
ABC Family, ABC News Now, Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Disney XD, ESPN, ESPN Buzzer Beater, ESPN Classic, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Goal Line, ESPN2, ESPNews, ESPNU, Longhorn Network, Ovation, SOAPnet, TBN, TBN Enlace, Velocity

Posted by Larry Yang, Senior Product Manager, Google Fiber

Congratulations, Kansas City!

2012-09-09T22:25:00.000-07:00

On July 26, we kicked off a six-week rally to find out where you wanted us to build Google Fiber. Since then, we’ve been amazed and humbled by your excitement and commitment to the future of the Internet. Three fiberhoods reached their goals on the very first day of our announcement and from there, you just took off, encouraging your friends and neighbors to pre-register. The momentum has been terrific—63 fiberhoods qualified in the past week alone. From Hanover Heights, which qualified for Fiber in just two hours, to Ivanhoe Southeast, Coronado and more, which just qualified in the last few hours, your response has been tremendous.

Pre-registration just closed, and at least 180 out of 202 fiberhoods have qualified for service.

This number has blown us away—and it’s not even the final tally. We’re still processing some final address verification requests and pre-registrations from apartment buildings and condos. On Thursday we’ll share the final list of fiberhoods that have qualified for Google Fiber and the order in which they’ll be constructed, along with more details about the next steps. So stay tuned!

This rally has been the first step in working toward one of the long-term core goals of Google Fiber—increasing access to the Internet. That’s why we’re connecting libraries, schools and community buildings in qualified fiberhoods. But affordable access at home is important too. So one of the three packages we offer is a Free Internet plan. Homes in Kansas City can get their own Fiber connection and today’s average Internet speeds for $0 per month, plus a construction fee.

We’ve been working hard to get the word out about Google Fiber. And we’ve learned from our many conversations—spontaneously on the street and at hundreds of community events—that offering an affordable service is only one step towards increasing Internet access. In fact, studies show that the main reason people don’t want the Internet is that they don’t think the web is relevant. So, over the past six weeks, we’ve worked side-by-side with many amazing community organizations to try and lessen the digital divide, and spread the word that access to the Internet is an essential element of everyday life.

Together we’ve made good progress during this pre-registration period, but there’s still work to be done. Some fiberhoods won’t qualify this time around. If you live in one of those fiberhoods, we want you to know that we’ve heard your concerns. We will include you in a future rally sometime next year, when you can try to qualify for Fiber again.

We’ve been truly inspired by, and have learned so much from, the efforts of local nonprofits, community centers, libraries, schools, and churches to pre-register their neighbors. And we want to continue working with these groups as they promote digital literacy throughout the community. So going forward, we aim to support great organizations in Kansas City in a programmatic and strategic way, through grants and joint educational efforts focused on digital literacy. Together we will work to equip Kansas Citians with the knowledge and tools they need to get online and use the web to their advantage for education, job hunting and more. We’ll have more details about this program soon.

We couldn’t be more proud to be a part of this community. Thank you, Kansas City!

Posted by Kevin Lo, General Manager, Google Access