Google Network to Launch in Kansas

By Sarah Graham, Communications Specialist, Connected Nation

Today, Google announced that it would deploy its first ultra-high speed fiber network in Kansas City, Kansas, after receiving applications from 1,100 cities around the country. Kansas City residents will have access to the 1 gigabit per second (Gbps) service beginning in 2012, according to news reports. In addition, Google will be providing free access to schools and other city facilities as the network is launched.

This will provide an impressive boost for Kansas community anchor institutions, as only 28% of these institutions that reported their broadband connection to Connect Kansas in 2010 reported using fiber.

For Connected Nation and its Connect Kansas program, this new fiber network is welcomed and exciting news. Already, Connect Kansas, along with other Connected Nation states, has researched and documented speed and platform data in Kansas as part of its comprehensive broadband mapping and planning program.

“At Connected Nation and Connect Kansas, we are excited to see this level of private investment going toward the infrastructure of the future,” said Brian Mefford, CEO of Connected Nation. “For Kansas City residents, businesses and schools, the ability to connect to an ultra-high speed network is an economic game changer in many respects. We look forward to measuring the impact and to helping everyone achieve more with this new community asset.”

The Google network promises to deliver ultra-high broadband speeds of 1 Gbps at competitive prices. According to Connect Kansas data, only 3 percent of Kansas households have access to broadband networks with download speeds of 100 Mbps, one-tenth of the speed of the Google network.

According to Connect Kansas’ 2010 Residential Technology Assessment, the average download speed reported by broadband-connected Kansas households is 5.7 Mbps, which equals about 0.006 Gbps. In fact, about 56,000 Kansas households report that they do not subscribe to broadband because it is not available at any speed, and 147,000 report that price is a barrier.

Google’s announcement of high-speed fiber (and its 1 Gbps speed) will not only change how fast Kansas residents can use the Internet, but also what kind of technology they use to do it.

According to 2010 data, approximately 4 percent of Kansas residents have access to a fiber connection, and fiber accounts for approximately one in twenty home broadband subscriptions. By comparison, 87.3 percent of households have access to digital subscriber line (DSL) and 77.3 percent have access to cable broadband.

These numbers from Connect Kansas certainly show an interesting starting picture of broadband speed and the platforms available in Kansas. Google’s commitment to Kansas City will certainly change the picture dramatically and we are excited to watch and document these changes.

To learn more about the Google fiber project in Kansas City, check out Google.com/fiber/kansascityks.

Connect Kansas Grant Funding Announced in News Conference

Today, Kansas Lt. Governor Troy Findley and Kansas Department of Commerce Secretary Bill Thornton hosted a news conference to unveil Kansas’ $2 million federal grant for the Connect Kansas rural broadband initiative.

Connected Nation has been chosen by the Department of Commerce to assist with the state’s mapping and planning activities. In addition, the Information Network of Kansas and the Kansas Farm Bureau have provided required matching grant funds.

To learn more, visit Connect Kansas’ Web site or the CN news blog.

Connected Nation Receives Recovery Act Funding For Broadband Mapping and Planning Initiatives in Alaska and Kansas

NTIA Awards Lay the Groundwork For Launch of Connect Alaska and Connect Kansas Initiatives

Washington, DC – Today, the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced approximately $4 million in grant awards for Alaska and Kansas, enabling Connected Nation to launch comprehensive broadband mapping initiatives in partnership with those states.

“Connected Nation’s mission is to see that every American, no matter where he or she lives, has access to high-speed Internet,” said Brian R. Mefford, Connected Nation’s chief executive officer. ”Whether it is making a purchase online or filling out a job application, broadband is key to accessing and sharing information in this technology-driven economy. By plotting broadband availability on a map, we can find the quickest path to closing the digital gaps that still exist for many Americans.

“We applaud NTIA for working diligently to create a national broadband map and are honored to have been selected to help Alaska and Kansas in their efforts to increase broadband in rural areas.”

Connected Nation will soon be working with 12 states and one U.S. territory on the national broadband mapping effort. These efforts comprise approximately 42 percent of the country’s landmass and encompass approximately 39.5 million households.

More than $7 billion in stimulus funds have been designated to help expand broadband access to unserved and underserved communities across the United States. These funds are available through NTIA’s Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) and the Rural Utilities Service’s Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP). NTIA has received applications for the grant program from all 50 states, five territories, and the District of Columbia and the agency is currently reviewing the remaining 35 applications. The remaining awards are expected to be announced in the next few weeks.

As the organization that produced the nation’s first granular statewide broadband availability map in 2005, Connected Nation is a prominent voice for the nation’s need for better broadband data. Connected Nation has worked closely with national leaders and provided numerous filings in support of a process for broadband data collection at the national level. To learn more about the programs that are helping more families and communities connect through broadband, visit http://www.connectednation.org/.

Related Links:

Kansas awarded $2 million from National Telecommunications and Information Administration for broadband mapping initiative