Google’s anxious to revolutionize the consumer data space, launching a well-funded initiative called Google Fiber.  What started as a localized experiment in Kansas City has since grown to Austin, TX.  Similar to the initial Kansas City program,  Austenites can choose between Gigabit Internet or Gigabit Internet Plus, our Google Fiber TV.  No news yet as to how much it will cost to subscribe to Google Fiber in Austin, but it’s probably similar or close to Kansas City pricing.  Google is also offering a free Internet connection at 5 mbps for 7 years if they are willing to pay a one-time construction fee.

“We believe the Internet’s next chapter will be built on gigabit speeds, and we hope this new Google Fiber city will inspire communities across America to think about what ultrafast connectivity could mean for them,” Google Fiber VP Milo Medin wrote.

As for choosing Austin as the next Google Fiber City, SiliconANGLE Contributing Editor John Casaretto stated that it’s not all about Austin being a creative or artistic hub, but because Austin was one of the early contenders to be a Google Fiber City.

“[T]he city put together a very business friendly proposition,” Casaretto said on SiliconANGLE’s NewsDesk with Kristin Feledy.  “It’s a business friendly town, the client’s right for that kind of thing.  It follows a lot of the reasoning why businesses in general are attracted to the area.”

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AT&T rains of Google’s Fiber parade

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Just hours after Google officially announced that Austin would be the next stop for Google Fiber, AT&T also announced that it is ready to build an advanced fiber optic infrastructure capable of delivering one gigabit per second in Austin as part of its Project VIP expansion of broadband access.

“Most encouraging is the recognition by government officials that policies which eliminate unnecessary regulation, lower costs and speed infrastructure deployment, can be a meaningful catalyst to additional investment in advanced networks which drives employment and economic growth,” said Randall Stephenson , AT&T chairman and CEO.

Though it is highly unlikely that AT&T would offer free internet access like Google, this effort opens up possibilities of more companies offering ultrafast internet speeds across the country.

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3 ways Austenites can prep for Google Fiber

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Read on

It is best to understand what Google Fiber is and what you’ll be getting before you sign up.  In Kansas City, there are three plans people can choose from, the $120 per month Gigabit + TV, the $70 Gigabit Internet, and the Free Internet but requires you to pay a $300 one-time construction fee.

The Gibabit + TV package includes up to one gigabit upload & download speed, full channel TV lineup, a 2 year contract, no data caps, Nexus 7 tablet, 1 TV Box, storage Box, network Box, and 1TB Google Drive.

Stay updated

Check the Google Fiber blog for updates regarding its Austin launch.  Much like in Kansas City, Austin will probably be divided into fiberhoods or clusters to make the transition more organized.  By being updated, you can quickly sign up once registration opens and you can rally up your neighbors to also sign up.

Rally the troops

Depending on how big your fiberhood is, you need five to 25 percent of your neighbors to sign up for Google Fiber for your neighborhood to qualify for it.  If your fiberhood doesn’t meet the required goal, you will not experience the ultrafast Internet speed that Google has to offer.