Losing the TV remote just got a little less unsettling. As of this morning, our Google Fiber TV app is available for iPad owners.
For the past month, our Fiber TV customers have been able to control their TVs with any recent Android device. Using the Fiber TV app from the Google Play Store, they can search for programming, browse listings, and select shows or recordings with just the touch or swipe of a finger. Now, iPad users can enjoy this simple, intuitive experience, too.

Head over to the Google Play store or the Apple App Store to download the free app now!
Posted by Tim Jennison, Software Engineer, Google Fiber

Today the Google Fiber team is in Provo, Utah, where Mayor John Curtis just announced that we intend to make Provo our third Google Fiber City.
Utah is already home to hundreds of tech companies and startups, and many of them are based in Provo. In fact, the Provo area ranks second in the nation in patent growth, and is consistently ranked as one of the top places to live and do business in the U.S. We believe the future of the Internet will be built on gigabit speeds, and we’re sure the businesses and residents of Provo already have some good ideas for what they’d build with a gig.
In order to bring Fiber to Provo, we’ve signed an agreement to purchase iProvo, an existing fiber-optic network owned by the city. As a part of the acquisition, we would commit to upgrade the network to gigabit technology and finish network construction so that every home along the existing iProvo network would have the opportunity to connect to Google Fiber. Our agreement with Provo isn’t approved yet—it’s pending a vote by the City Council scheduled for next Tuesday, April 23. We intend to begin the network upgrades as soon as the closing conditions are satisfied and the deal is closed.
Provo started building their own municipal network in 2004 because they decided that providing access to high speed connectivity was important to their community’s future. In 2011, they started looking for a partner that could acquire their network and deliver an affordable service for Provoans. We’re committed to keeping their vision alive, and, if the deal is approved and the acquisition closes, we’d offer our Free Internet service (5 Mbps speeds) to every home along the existing Provo network, for a $30 activation fee and no monthly charge for at least seven years. We would also offer Google Fiber Gigabit Internet—up to 100x faster Internet than today’s average broadband speeds—and the option for Google Fiber TV service with hundreds of your favorite channels. We’d also provide free Gigabit Internet service to 25 local public institutions like schools, hospitals and libraries.
Over the next few days, we’ll be in and around Provo with Mayor Curtis, attending community meetings and talking to residents about what widespread gigabit connectivity could mean for their community, and the ways in which we’d invest in their iProvo network. If you are a Provoan, we hope to see you there! In the meantime, you can sign up on our website to get updates and more information.
Posted by Kevin Lo, General Manager, Google Fiber

Jon Snow. Hannah Horvath. Sookie Stackhouse. If any of these names ring a bell for you, then you’re going to be very happy to hear that we’ve just added HBO to our TV lineup. Starting today, our Google Fiber TV customers will be able to add on our new HBO package to their plan for $20/month (plus tax). The plan will include HBO, HBO2, HBO Signature, HBO Family, HBO Latino, HBO Comedy, and HBO Zone.
And, for those of you who are holding out for Cinemax, today is your lucky day, too — you can add our brand new Cinemax package for $10/month (plus tax), and get eight new channels, including Max, MoreMax, ActionMax, ThrillerMax, WMax, @Max, 5-StarMax, and OuterMax.
If you really love TV and want both of these add-ons, we’ve just launched our new premium package, which you may want to consider. With the premium package, you can get STARZ, Showtime, HBO and Cinemax, all for $40/month (plus tax).
You can sign up for these packages starting now. If you already have Fiber service installed in your home, you can call customer service 24/7 at 866-777-7550 to have any of these packages added. Folks that haven’t been connected to service yet can sign up for these packages on our website or if you have any questions, you can always contact us.
Posted by Larry Yang, Head of Product Management

Now that the snow has melted and the warmer weather is hopefully here to stay, we’re ready to roll out service even faster across Kansas and Missouri.
That’s why we’re announcing the deadlines for eighteen new Fiberhoods today. If you live in any of these fiberhoods, be sure to choose your Fiber plan soon, so that we can come connect you to Google FIber. If you’re not sure which fiberhood you belong to, just type in your address on our website, and your fiberhood info will pop up . As always, if you have any questions let us know!
Kansas Deadlines
Plaza at Speedway - Thursday, May 30
Stony Point - Thursday, May 30
Melrose - Thursday, May 30
Rainbow Ridge - Thursday, May 30
Pomeroy - Thursday, June 6
Southwest Boulevard - Thursday, June 6
Tauromee Ave - Thursday, June 6
Frank Rushton - Thursday, June 6
Washington High School - Thursday, June 6
Central Middle School - Thursday, June 6
North KU Med - Thursday, June 6
Bethel - Thursday, June 13
Community College - Thursday, June 13
Alvey Park - Thursday, June 20
Grinter - Thursday, June 20
White Church - Thursday, June 20
Eisenhower Park - Thursday, June 20
Grant - Thursday, June 20

Missouri Deadlines
Countryside - Thursday, April 18
Greenway Fields - Thursday, April 18
Wornall Homestead - Thursday, May 23
Crossroads - Thursday, May 23

Posted by Rachel Hack, Community Manager, Google Fiber

We know that your time is valuable and so we’ve always focused on speed — from search to Gmail, Chrome to Android. Two years ago, we announced that we’d be bringing Google Fiber to Kansas City to show what’s possible with super fast Internet access, and since November we’ve been connecting homes there to gigabit Internet that’s 100 times faster than today’s average broadband performance.
Today, we’re pleased to announce with Mayor Lee Leffingwell that Austin, Texas is becoming a Google Fiber city. It’s a mecca for creativity and entrepreneurialism, with thriving artistic and tech communities, as well as the University of Texas and its new medical research hospital. We’re sure these folks will do amazing things with gigabit access, and we feel very privileged to have been welcomed to their community.
Our goal is to start connecting homes in Austin by mid-2014. Customers there will have a similar choice of products as our customers in Kansas City: Gigabit Internet or Gigabit Internet plus our Google Fiber TV service with nearly 200 HD TV channels. We’re still working out pricing details, but we expect them to be roughly similar to Kansas City. Also, as in Kansas City, we’re going to offer customers a free Internet connection at 5 mbps for 7 years, provided they pay a one-time construction fee. We’re also planning to connect many public institutions as we build in Austin— schools, hospitals, community centers, etc. — at a gigabit for no charge. If you live in Austin and want to sign up for more information, please visit our website.
The Internet is still in its early days and has so much more potential to improve our lives. The web helps students and families access essential resources, from information about jobs and healthcare to banking and educational services. Communities that are connected to the Internet grow stronger because there’s greater potential to create jobs, drive economic growth, and help businesses succeed. 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. If you’re a city leader and you’re looking for some help making your city gigabit-friendly, have a look at this video from the FCC’s March 2013 Workshop on Gigabit Community Broadband Networks for steps you can take towards your own gigabit-powered future.
Posted by Milo Medin, Vice President, Google Fiber

It’s easy to get used to ultra-high speed Gigabit speeds. Websites load instantly, photos upload in seconds, and you never have to wait for web videos to buffer. That’s why, once you’ve used Google Fiber, it’s hard to go back to regular connectivity.
We’ve heard this feedback a few times from our customers in Kansas City; it seems that some folks have become hesitant to leave their home connections. They want to be able to have access to Fiber even when they’re out and and about in KC, not just within the confines of their own home.
So my team of engineers started thinking about possible solutions. How do you get a Gigabit everywhere in the community? We realized that the answer was all around us — utility poles. Poles already have our Fiber strung to them; all we had to do was come up with a way to make that Fiber accessible. That’s what we’ve done today. I’m happy to announce our newest project: Google Fiber Poles.

For more information, and to locate a pole near you, visit google.com/fiber/poles
Posted by Michael Plump, Product Lead, Fiber-to-the-pole

Since last November, Google Fiber TV customers have been able to use their Nexus 7 tablet — which they get for free with their TV subscription — as their remote control. We’ve heard from our users that they love being able to browse shows and control their TV with their tablet. But we’ve also heard that sometimes, they’d like to be able to use the App on whatever device they have handy.
So our team started building an App that would let them do that. And last week, we launched a redesigned Google Fiber TV App on Google Play, that will work on any Android device running Version 4.1 or later. An iOS app is also coming soon.
I asked Stergios Anastasiadis, our Engineering Manager for the App, three questions about what the App can do.
Q: Stergios, what’s new about this version of the App? A: Well, you already hit on the fact that a lot more people, with a lot more devices, are going to be able to use the app. Personally, I really like being able to use my phone to control Fiber TV. Since I always have my phone in my pocket, it’s super easy and fast to find the show I want to watch, without needing to dig around for my remote, or wrestle my tablet away from my daughters.
Q: I know you guys spent a ton of time designing a new look for the App. Tell me a little about that process. A: Our new user interface, or “UI,” is built with one thing in mind — letting you find the shows you want to watch quickly. We’ve made our search button available from every screen in the app, so you’ll never have to search for “search.” You’ll also notice that images and text are more prominent on the screen, so that it’s easier browse through shows and movies quickly. My favorite part of the new design is that it now works in portrait mode — something that a lot of our users asked for, which is super useful when you’ve got a slice of pizza in your other hand.
Q: One big question. Why even bother with an app? A: There are two answers to this question. First, an app gives us the chance to build cool new TV experiences for you. For example, we’ve built a “watchalong mode,” which lists actor and show info on your tablet or phone while the show is playing. “Watchalong mode” puts you on the fast track to becoming a movie trivia buff — or at least will help you remember what that actor/actress’ name is.
Secondly, we want to make life easier for you. Using a traditional remote control is fine for quick tasks like changing channels. That’s why Fiber TV comes with a brand new, Bluetooth-enabled remote control. But remote controls aren’t always the best tool for browsing through your DVR library or searching for shows. The app makes these things easier and faster.

If you have Fiber TV, you can download our new App via Google Play. We’d love to hear your feedback and new feature suggestions, so let us know what you think by writing a review!
Posted by Larry Yang, Head of Product Management

Over the past few months, as we’ve rolled out Google Fiber in Kansas City, we’ve heard from thousands of people from across the country. It seems that folks really want what KC has — a great startup scene, an inventive community, and access to Gigabit speeds.
Today, another city in the Kansas City area is getting the chance to join the growing Silicon Prairie — Olathe, Kan. A few minutes ago, the Olathe City Council approved an agreement to bring Google Fiber to their city. Olathe has become one of the fastest-growing cities in Kansas and has attracted an influx of new businesses and residents. They’ve all noticed what a great community Olathe is, and so have we. We think that Fiber and widespread Internet access will help to create jobs, grow local businesses, and make Olathe even stronger as it grows.
We still have a lot of planning and engineering work to do before we’re ready to bring Fiber to Olathe. Once we get those processes underway, we’ll be able to announce more about pre-registration and construction timing. We’ll be sure to publish an update as soon as we have it. This announcement doesn’t change our published construction schedule for eligible homes in Kansas City, Kan. and Central Kansas City, Mo.
Many thanks to the Olathe City Council and the people of Olathe for helping to make this happen. Hopefully, this is the first of several announcements that we'll be able to make about bringing Google Fiber to additional cities in the KC metro area; so stay tuned.
Posted by Rachel Hack, Community Manager, Google Fiber

When you turn on your Google Fiber TV, you should be able to kick back and relax with all of the TV programming that you love. That’s why Fiber TV comes with a comprehensive selection of channels, a Storage Box that you can fill with 500 hours of HD recordings, and a growing VOD library.
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again — we’re committed to making these qualities that you’ve come to expect from Google Fiber TV better and better. And, thanks to the amazing capacity of Fiber, we can also include some new experiences and tools that will make watching TV even cooler. For example, 3D channels.
Thanks to two great new channels, 3net and ESPN3D, our Google Fiber TV customers (who own 3D glasses and a 3D-capable TV) will now be able to watch 3D programming right in their living room.
Subscribers to our Gigabit + TV Plan will get 3net, which features an extensive library of original 3D programming, including natural history, documentary, action/adventure, kids and family, lifestyle and cuisine, concerts, movies, scripted series and more.
ESPN3D, the industry’s first 24/7 3D sports network, is now available through Google Fiber for $5/month (plus tax) with your Gigabit + TV plan.
Starting today, existing customers can find 3net on channel 338, and call us to sign up for ESPN3D.
Posted by Larry Yang, Head of Product Management

There are some big deadlines coming up for our customers in the next fiberhoods in Kansas City, Kan. and, for the first time, customers in Kansas City, Mo., too!
As we've mentioned before, if you live in any of the next four Kansas City, Kan. fiberhoods, you need to select your Google Fiber service plan within the next few weeks in order to get Fiber service.
Today we’re also announcing the deadlines for our first eight Kansas City, Mo. fiberhoods — Crown Center, Midtown, Sunset Hill, South Plaza West, Countryside, Greenway Fields, Wornall Homestead, and Crossroads. Based on our construction timeline, these fiberhoods are scheduled to get Google Fiber this spring, so if you live in one of these areas, be sure to choose your Fiber plan soon! Not sure which fiberhood you belong to? Find out quickly, by entering your address on our website.
You can see the specific deadlines for each fiberhood below. And, as always, if you have any questions let us know!
Kansas Deadlines
Delaware Ridge - Thursday, February 14
Painted Hills - Thursday, February 28
Open Door - Thursday, February 28
Arrowhead - Thursday, March 7

Missouri Deadlines
Crown Center - Thursday, March 21
Midtown - Thursday, March 28
Sunset Hill - Thursday, April 4
South Plaza West - Thursday, April 11
Countryside - Thursday, April 18
Greenway Fields - Thursday, April 18
Wornall Homestead - Thursday, April 25
Crossroads - Thursday, April 25

Posted by Rachel Hack, Community Manager, Google Fiber