Signing up for Google Fiber isn't simply a matter of scheduling an installation appointment. Google divided up the two Kansas Cities (Missouri and Kansas) into 202 "fiberhoods" of about 800 homes each, and asked residents to preregister and plunk down a $10 fee to express their interest. To qualify, neighborhoods had to reach goals of anywhere between 5 percent and 25 percent of residents signing up.
Google announced yesterday that it has closed preregistration, with 180 out of the 202 fiberhoods meeting their goals. People living in one of these neighborhoods can sign up starting September 13. For $70 per month, residents can get Gigabit Internet, and for $120 per month, they can get Gigabit Internet service plus TV. There's even a "free" Internet tier with 5Mbps down and 1Mbps up. The free tier requires a one-time construction fee of $300 or 12 monthly payments of $25, but Google guarantees the free service for seven years.
Pre-registration began July 26. Google said there was a big rush in registrations as the deadline neared, with 63 neighborhoods qualifying in the past week. Sign-ups have turned into something of a "civic cause," the New York Times reported, because so many predominantly black neighborhoods have low Internet usage rates. Affluent areas signed up much more quickly than poor ones. "With almost all of Kansas City, Kan., including low-income areas, achieving their sign-up goals, Google’s focus over the weekend was here in Missouri, where it worked with community groups to register people," the Times said.
The tally of neighborhoods qualifying will rise a bit, as Google is still processing some final requests from apartment buildings and condos. Google will announce on Thursday the order in which each neighborhood will see Fiber construction. "Fiberhoods" that didn't qualify will have to wait until sometime next year for another chance.
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