Google rolls out free gigabit Fiber in public housing

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By Larry Banks

Last year, Google announced it would provide free gigabit Internet in public housing in existing Google Fiber markets. Now the company has fulfilled its promise by announcing the roll-out of Fiber in West Bluff, Kansas City.

The roll-out was developed with ConnectHome, a federal program created by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and offers free Internet to residents in addition to discounted hardware and computer skills classes.

The pilot includes more than 100 homes in West Bluff, and residents will get Internet speeds up to 1,000 Mbps (1 Gigabit). Google is also working to connect a further 9 properties in Kansas City, bringing the total to more than 1,300 families.

The search giant will also expand the program to housing communities in its other Fiber cities such as Austin, Durham and Nashville.

Google VP Dennis Kursh described the project in a blog post:

“The U.S. has some of the most expensive broadband in the world, while lagging far behind other countries in Internet speeds. And for families in affordable housing, cost can be one of the biggest barriers to getting online. Alongside our ConnectHome partners, we’re proud to make some of the fastest Internet more available and accessible to those who need it most“.

SOURCE: Google.

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