This is the second post in our “Behind the Scenes” blog series, designed to answer some frequently asked questions about how things work at Google Fiber. Today, our construction manager John Toccalino is going to explain the steps in actually building a Google Fiber network and why it takes awhile. - Ed.
Today your Internet and TV service are probably connected to your home via copper wires. This technology has been around for over 100 years, and it just wasn’t built for what we’re trying to use it for today. My job with Google Fiber is to build thousands of miles of brand new fiber-optic cable, which is far better and faster than copper at transmitting information, such as the bits that make up your favorite websites, YouTube videos, video chats, or online games. Fiber-optic cables are made of glass, and they use lasers to transmit information — close to the speed of light! It’s amazing technology, but unfortunately very few homes have direct access to fiber networks today.
That’s where my team comes in. Every day, we’re working to plan and build brand new Google Fiber networks in Kansas City and Austin. There are a few big steps.
Step 1: Figure out where we can put our fiber. We need to build thousands of miles of fiber — but we can’t just put it wherever we want. First, we use the infrastructure data that the city has shared with us to create a base map of where we can build (existing utility poles, conduit) and where we should avoid (water, sewer and electric lines). Then, a team of surveyors and engineers hits the streets to fill in any missing details.
Step 2: Design the network. There are a few basic components to our Fiber networks that we need to design from scratch for every single city. In general, you can think of it as a hub-and-spoke design:

Every mile of this network has to be planned and diagramed, which takes a huge amount of time (imagine planning a network that touches ~30 utility poles per mile, for thousands of miles). We also plan and build backup fiber routes; we want to be ready just in case there's a break in service along any section of our network (it just so happens that squirrels love to chew through fiber lines).
Step 3: Build the network. Only once we have a solid plan — including diagrams of every utility pole our fiber will travel on, detailed maps of where we’ll need to dig up streets to install new conduit, and the specs for every single hut and cabinet — can we get boots on the ground to start building our network. That’s when you’ll start to see crews out in the streets with their boom trucks, boring machines, and rolls of conduit and cables.

In other words, this is a huge undertaking, and we know you might get a bit impatient with us from time to time. We know you want your Google Fiber — please know that we’ve got our teams hard at work to get you connected just as soon as we can.
Posted by John Toccalino, Manager of Outside Plant Engineering, Google Fiber

Today we’re introducing a “Behind the Scenes” blog series, designed to answer some frequently asked questions about how things work at Google Fiber. Today we’ll hear from Derek Slater, a Government Relations Manager at Google who works with the Fiber team, to explain how we work with local city governments to build a fiber network. - Ed.
When most Americans connect to the Internet from their homes, their signal travels along a local telecommunications infrastructure, currently built mostly of copper cables that run along utility poles or underground. Now that technology has advanced, communities are starting to upgrade to fiber-optic cable that’s better suited to 21st century communications demands, like high-speed Internet. And that involves a lot of detailed planning — utility pole by utility pole and block by block.
That’s what Google Fiber teams are working on right now in the Kansas City area, Austin, and Provo. We’re going to tell you more about the actual construction process in a future blog post, but here we want to focus on how we work closely with city leaders before anyone picks up a shovel or climbs a ladder.
The existing telecommunications infrastructure was installed bit by bit throughout the 20th century — so it’s likely that cities have never experienced the kind of scale and pace of building an entire telecommunications infrastructure all at once. That’s why our first step is to sit down with them to discuss how we can work together quickly and efficiently on such an unusually large project. Some people have suggested that these conversations between Google Fiber and city leaders involve requests for special incentives, exclusive privileges or tax breaks — and that’s simply not true. Instead, like anyone looking to deploy a new network, our conversations cover some pretty mundane stuff, usually across 3 main topics:
Access to infrastructure - In order to build a network, we need to string fiber along utility poles or install it underground through protective tubes called conduit. It’s not feasible for each and every provider to build their own poles and conduit — after all, there’s only so much space on city streets, and it'd be an ugly waste of resources to force everyone to put up brand new poles alongside existing ones and dig up city streets unnecessarily. So it's essential that cities ensure that new providers can use existing poles and conduit. We work with the city and, where applicable, the local electric utility and telephone company to figure out which poles and conduit we can use for Google Fiber, then we agree on a fair market price we can pay to lease that space.
Access to local infrastructure maps - Once we get permission to lease space on existing poles and in available conduit, we need to know where all of that infrastructure is physically located, so that we can plan where our fiber lines will go. It is critical that the city provide accurate maps about poles and conduit, plus info about existing water, gas, and electricity lines, so that we can know where we can safely build our fiber network.
Expedited construction permits - Google Fiber cities need to be ready for the large volume of permits (thousands!) that we’ll be submitting to them. We comply with each city’s permitting code, and we work closely with cities to figure out a way to expedite the permitting process to make sure that they’re comfortable and ready for the planned pace.
Our work with the city doesn’t end here. We stay in touch with city leaders and work closely with them throughout the entire construction and installation process to make it as quick and painless for residents as possible — a topic which we’ll cover in our next “Fiber Behind the Scenes” blog post.
Posted by Derek Slater, Government Relations Manager

It’s almost time to open the firehose and let gigabit Internet flow to the “Silicon Slopes” — starting today, several thousand Provo residents (residential customers of the local Veracity Networks) can start signing up for Google Fiber. Sign-ups for the rest of Provo residents will open in January.
This sign-up process is different (and faster) in Provo than in Kansas City and Austin because our construction process is different. In KC and Austin, we need to install thousands of miles of brand new fiber-optic cables, which requires many months of planning, engineering and construction before we can open sign-ups and bring service to customers. Here in Provo, we purchased the iProvo network from the City of Provo, so a lot of this network already exists — we just needed to upgrade it to make it faster.
Veracity customers get the first crack at signing up for Fiber service — they’re already hooked up to our newly-upgraded fiber because they’ve been connected to the former iProvo network, so it will be efficient and quick to install Google Fiber for any of them who want to switch providers. This “first chance” opportunity is only for Veracity residential customers right now; other Provo residents and local small businesses can go to our website and sign-up to be notified when Fiber is coming to their area.
If you’re a Veracity residential customer, this means you’re eligible for Google Fiber service, including an Internet connection that’s up to 100 times faster than basic broadband. All you have to do is go to google.com/fiber/provo, enter your address, and select which Google Fiber package (Gigabit Internet, Gigabit + TV, or Free Internet) you want. In order to get this early access to Google Fiber, make sure you sign up before October 31.
This process is slightly different for those of you who live in apartment buildings or condos (what we call “Multi-Dwelling Units,” or MDUs). Since we need to bring Fiber to the entire building, the process takes a little longer. We are starting the conversations with landlords and property owners across the city. If you live in a building with 9 or more units, get in touch with your landlord and (1) tell them that you want Google Fiber, and (2) ask them to fill out this form. A member of our local Provo Fiber team will contact your landlord to discuss next steps on how to bring gigabit speed to your unit.
Have questions? Confused about what this means for you? Just give us a call, email us or do an online chat with our customer service team. We’re here and ready to help, 24/7.
Posted by Michael Slinger, Director of Fiber Business Operations

Ed Note: From time to time, we invite guest bloggers to write about their work — and why they think faster Internet speeds are important — here on our Fiber blog. Today we’re joined by Joe Kochan, the COO of US Ignite, a nonprofit that’s been traveling the U.S. searching for developers who want to build new tools for a faster web. US Ignite is joining us at the Kansas City Fiber Space this November and they’re looking for a few talented developers to come along...
What would you do with a gigabit? That's the question that US Ignite has been working to answer since we launched — and we want you to help us come up with some answers. This November, our team will travel to Kansas City to work with local and national developers to build and test gigabit applications that are built for high speed networks like the Google Fiber.
Do you want to build an application that:
• Is incredibly and realistically responsive, with no latency or delay?
• Allows you to touch, move, and control things with your hands, your eyes or your body language?
• Enables real-time collaboration in a natural way?
• Provides immediate results from massive computational efforts with big data?
• Is not limited by bandwidth?

If so, we want you to join us in Kansas City on Friday, November 1 - Sunday, November 3 for our Gigabit Explorer Challenge. We’re accepting applications starting this week — just submit your ideas on our website to join the contest. Not only will you get to develop using Google Fiber, but you’ll also have access to technology advisors and onsite computing and storage resources. You just need to have a great idea and be willing to put in the time to develop it.
For more information about US Ignite and its mission, please visit our website or watch this 3-minute video summarizing our recent Applications Summit, where some gigabit applications were already demonstrated. Hope to see you at the Fiber Space!
Posted by Joe Kochan, COO, US Ignite

Earlier this evening, the Lenexa, Kan. City Council unanimously passed an agreement to bring Google Fiber to their residents. Lenexa is our 17th Kansas City-area expansion city (in addition to Kansas City, Kan. and Kansas City, Mo.)

View Kansas City Areas Eligible for Google Fiber in a larger map
We're excited to bring service to Lenexa, but we still need to plan and start building our network there before we can open sign-ups or share any information about customer installation. In the meantime, you can keep up with our progress right here on our blog, and you can sign up for email updates by entering your address on our website.
Posted by Rachel Hack, Community Manager, Google Fiber

As a kid, I loved my local library. I used to walk in those doors and pause, amazed that so many books and resources were available and free. That sense of appreciation has stuck with me over the years. Local libraries, schools, community centers and nonprofits are critical resource hubs that help keep neighborhoods strong — and that’s why we’re hooking up some of these community sites in Kansas City, Austin and Provo with Gigabit Internet connectivity.
These “Community Connections” sites have already been selected in Kansas City (Kan. and Mo.), where hundreds of nonprofits, schools and government buildings will get a free Gigabit Internet connection for a maximum of ten years. And, starting this week, interested sites in Austin and Provo can apply to receive a Community Connection — both local governments are currently taking applications and will ultimately choose who gets connected.
If you’re an Austin nonprofit or public organization, the Austin city government is accepting applications for potential local Community Connections now through September 30 (apply in the “Digital Inclusion” section of the AustinTexas.gov website). If you’re a Provo nonprofit or public organization, you can learn more about your local Community Connections program in the “Current News” section of Provo's website. Today is the first day to submit applications and the deadline is October 10.
For more information about Community Connections — including technical info and FAQs about the gig hookup for site representatives — you can visit our brand new Community Connections website.
Posted by Dov Zimring, Product Manager, Google Fiber

We’re starting the week with a double dose of good news. Tonight, the City Councils in Mission Hills, Kan. and Fairway, Kan. just approved Google Fiber for their cities. We’ll start planning our network in these new cities ASAP and we’ll make another announcement once we’re ready to start customer signups. To stay up-to-date on Fiber and when it will be coming to your area, enter your address on our site, then sign up for email updates.
Posted by Rachel Hack, Google Fiber Community Manager

The color of the leaves won’t be the only thing changing in Kansas City this autumn. Forty-four more fiberhoods, across both Kansas and Missouri, will have the chance to experience instant downloads and crystal clear HDTV. If you live in one of the fiberhoods listed below, visit our website now to choose your plan.
Wyandotte Center - Thursday, October 3
Royal Gardens - Thursday, October 3
West Height - Thursday, October 3
Turner Diagonal - Thursday, October 3
Sumner - Thursday, October 3
Watchtower - Thursday, October 3
Coronado - Thursday, October 3
Banneker - Thursday, October 3
Frances Willard - Thursday, October 3
Eugene Ware - Thursday, October 3

N 55th - Thursday, October 10
Edison School - Thursday, October 10
Beacon Hills - Thursday, October 10
Emerson - Thursday, October 10
Linden Hills - Thursday, October 10
West Side North - Thursday, October 10
North Town Fork Crk - Thursday, October 10
Southmoreland North - Thursday, October 10
Westport - Thursday, October 10
West Side South - Thursday, October 10

Willow Creek North - Thursday, October 17
City Park - Thursday, October 17
Prescott Park - Thursday, October 17
Woodland - Thursday, October 17
Mt Hope - Thursday, October 17
Caruthers - Thursday, October 17
Kensington - Thursday, October 17
Klamm Park - Thursday, October 17
Santa Fe - Thursday, October 17
County 5 - Thursday, October 17
Center City - Thursday, October 17
Wendell Phillips - Thursday, October 17

Mount Cleveland - Thursday, October 24
Tri-Blenheim - Thursday, October 24
Citadel - Thursday, October 24
Key Coalition North - Thursday, October 24
Indian Mound West - Thursday, October 24
Budd Park - Thursday, October 24
South Town Fork Crk - Thursday, October 24
Splitlog Park - Thursday, October 24
Memorial Park - Thursday, October 24
Key Coalition South - Thursday, October 24
Lincoln Prep - Thursday, October 24
Parkview - Thursday, October 24

Posted by Rachel Hack, Google Fiber Community Manager

The Roeland Park City Council just voted to bring Google Fiber to their citizens. While we don’t have an ETA for when we’ll be able to start installations (we still have to plan our network and then build it), we’re thrilled to be coming to Roeland Park in the future. If you live in Roeland Park, you can enter your address on our site, then sign up for email updates.

View Kansas City Areas Eligible for Google Fiber in a larger map
Posted by Rachel Hack, Google Fiber Community Manager

Merriam, Kansas just became the newest Google Fiber city, following a vote at tonight’s city council meeting. We want to hook up Merriam residents as soon as possible, but we still need to plan our network and start construction before we can start installations. We’ll let you know when we’re ready to open signups here on our blog and via social media.
Posted by Rachel Hack, Google Fiber Community Manager