My home broadband connection is on the speedier end of what’s available to the average American consumer. It averages about 15-20 Mbps, which is plenty fast for my needs. But this time next year, it’s going to look like dial-up compared to the blazing fast speeds that will be available to the good people of Kansas City, Kansas. That’s because Google has selected Kansas City as the test location for a 1Gbps fiber network that may be a precursor to similar networks in other cities. If Google can offer these connections to ordinary people at rates that match or beat those of cable and DSL providers, it could be the beginning of a new era of competition and innovation in a market that is now under the grip of a lethargic duopoly.
Google’s selection of a mid-sized city in the Plains is also shrewd strategic planning for future networks. Lots of communities are casting about for economic drivers to replace their shrinking manufacturing base. If Kansas City reaps economic rewards attributable to the presence of this network, other cities will take notice and welcome Google and its partners with open arms.
