“As a Google Fiber team member since 2011, it fills me with immense pride to reflect on our journey – from the selection of Kansas City as our inaugural home to our expansion from coast-to-coast in the last decade. We’ve seen firsthand the transformative power of ultra-high-speed internet in fueling innovation, bridging divides and fostering community growth. As we look ahead, we remain steadfast in our commitment to building on Kansas City’s growth and empowering communities nationwide with the connectivity they need to thrive in the decades to come.”—Rachel Merlo, Head of Google Fiber Government and Community Affairs, Central, Region and Orange County, CA
Few corporate announcements in history have generated as much anticipation and speculation as Google’s 2010 search for a city for its first gigabit speeds fiber network. More than 1,100 US cities representing more than 180 million people expressed interest in becoming the first Google Fiber metro. Google Fiber’s goal in selecting a city was “to find a location where they could build efficiently, make an impact on the community and develop relationships with local government and community organizations.”
They found all of that and more in early 2011 when they selected both Kansas City, Kansas, and Kansas City, Missouri, as its first two communities with the promise of delivering internet speeds 100 times faster than the national average at that time.
While a great deal has changed since then, Kansas City remains in the midst of a renaissance, and the sense of community pride has never been greater. GFiber’s decision to come here played a significant role in positioning Kansas City as one of the country’s most technologically advanced, innovative, and entrepreneurial cities as ranked by numerous publications, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Fast Company, and Inc. Magazine.
“As the first city in the world to adopt Google Fiber Internet, Kansas City is now on the bleeding edge of the next frontier of ultra-high-speed access.”
— Fast Company
“Kansas City has become a hub for tech start-ups. It was the first community to receive Google Fiber, which is much faster than basic broadband.”
— The New York Times
“The growth of the broader tech industry in the Kansas City metro area in recent years, she adds, is due in part to the intellectual capital in the city—but that companies in the area are also working to build what she calls the ‘major-league baseball farm system of talent’ through apprenticeships and skills development programs that keep tech workers engaged not just with employers but with the broader community.”
— The Wall Street Journal
From early partners like KC Digital Drive, The Kansas City Public Library, and Literacy KC, the number and variety of organizations and entities that have come together to make Kansas City one of the most digitally connected communities in the country is astounding. In partnership with these organizations and others, GFiber has worked to ensure it is doing its part to bridge the digital divide, particularly in traditionally underserved communities.
Whether through the KC Digital Inclusion Fund, the ConnectHome Initiative, or the Community Connections Program, GFiber has been committed to providing reliable, affordable (in fact, at no cost in many cases) service to those who need it most in the KC Metro area.
Since first planting roots in Kansas City, GFiber has continued to innovate in the internet space. Working with The University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Science & Engineering, GFiber has deployed and tested a 20-gigabit broadband connection. The UMKC Robert W. Plaster Free Enterprise and Research Center is currently piloting the use of 20 Gig internet—a first for the company and one of the first-ever applications of its kind in the broadband industry, which the company rolled out more broadly as a part of the first GFiber Labs project at the end of 2023.
And GFiber has continued to grow and expand its service area, both locally and nationally. Kansas City became the catalyst for embracing fast gigabit internet; the success spread quickly. Kansas City was just the beginning—Google Fiber now serves communities across 19 states, including over 30 right here in the KC metro area.
