Google Fiber, competition, and affordable broadband for all

[Commentary] In Feb, Google Fiber, the broadband Internet and TV subsidiary of Alphabet, announced the rollout of free gigabit Internet service for the West Bluff neighborhood in Kansas City (MO). This is the first step in the company’s plan to provide free gigabit service to public housing in all cities where fiber is available through a partnership with the White House’s ConnectHome program. This list currently includes four cities, but with seven cities approved for fiber rollout and another eleven potential fiber cities, it is possible the service could expand rapidly in the near future.

Google Fiber’s growth and continued partnership with the Department of Housing and Urban Development have far-reaching implications for the future of the nation’s broadband infrastructure. This partnership raises the subject of how Google Fiber determines which cities will receive access to the service, and what can be done for those outside of the company’s reach. As the fiber expansion map shows, Google Fiber’s focus remains in the Southeast and West. It has been suggested that Google Fiber looks for small cities that have high growth potential, an existing fiber infrastructure, and a local government willing to draft regulations that make entry into the market easier (sometimes with unintended consequences). Google Fiber’s effort to bring free gigabit service to public housing in the cities they serve is a positive step, but affordability barriers will persist until markets beyond Google Fiber’s reach become more competitive.