Web Rivals Want What Google Got

To entice Google to build its ultra-high-speed fiber network there, Kansas City (KS) and Kansas City (MO) offered the Internet company sweeteners including several free or discounted city services. Now, Time Warner Cable and AT&T the incumbent Internet and TV providers in town, are angling to get the same deal.

Among the sweeteners granted Google by both cities are free office space and free power for Google's equipment, according to the agreement on file with the cities. The company also gets the use of all the cities' "assets and infrastructure"—including fiber, buildings, land and computer tools, for no charge. Both cities are even providing Google a team of government employees "dedicated to the project." For the past few months, Time Warner Cable has been negotiating with Kansas City (KS) to get a "parity agreement" granting it the same concessions as Google got, the city and the company says. Time Warner Cable has already signed such a deal with Kansas City (MO).