Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed says Google Fiber has the potential to increase job opportunities and internet proficiency in the city’s communities.
Reed said ultra high speed internet service will strengthen economic development opportunities and set citizens up to succeed. He said Google Fiber also presents a great opportunity to bridge the digital divide that exists in some of our communities, allowing more people to compete on today’s high-tech playing field.
“I’m confident we’ll be able to show Google that the City of Atlanta is well worth the investment,” Reed said.
Kevin Lo, General Manager for Google Fiber, said communities with abundant high-speed Internet grow stronger because there’s greater potential to create jobs, drive economic growth, and help students and families get access to essential resources.
“City leaders like Mayor Kasim Reed are stepping up to see what they can do to make their cities ready for the fiber-optic networks that are the future,” Lo said.
However, Carlos Campos, Interim Director of Communications for the City of Atlanta, said this is not a done deal.
“Certainly, we are excited about the prospect of ultra-high speed internet access for the City of Atlanta, but nothing has been decided,” Lo said.
The first step is for Google to consult with the City of Atlanta about the factors that determine if Google Fiber can be brought to the streets, homes, and businesses of Atlanta. Google began working with Reed this week on making a list of what factors would affect construction and planning how to prepare cities in the coming months.
Google Fiber’s “Gigabit” internet speed ranges up to 1,000 Megabits per second whereas the average broadband speed in the United States is 9.8 Megabits per second. They claim to be 100x faster than broadband internet.
Kansas City, Kansas, Kansas City, Missouri, and Provo, Utah currently have Google Fiber installed.
In Kansas City and Provo the pricing plans include Gigabit Internet and TV for $120 a month, Gigabit Internet for $70 a month, and free internet for $0 a month with a $300 construction fee.
