Community Connections

What are Community Connections?

Piper School

Google believes in bringing people and communities together using technology. The web becomes a better place as each of us joins together to learn, share, collaborate, and contribute. That’s why we are committed to bringing Google Fiber to local community sites selected by each Fiber city and providing free community access in neighborhoods that qualify for Google Fiber.

Such Community Connections include public and non-profit organizations selected by the city to receive gigabit Google Fiber connections at no cost. For example, each city may choose schools, libraries, community centers, and other public facilities.

Find out if your fiberhood has a local Community Connection by checking your address.

Information for Community Connections sites

What will your connection include?

Gigabit Internet

All Community Connections will be equipped with a symmetric gigabit Internet connection (up to 1 Gbps upload and 1 Gbps download) over Google Fiber’s network. Google will provide a free connection and service for the duration of time specified in our contract with your city.

Dedicated Support

We have dedicated phone support available 24 hours/day, every day of the year, along with email and chat support. For any issues with Community Connections, we will provide a next business day on-site response, as necessary. We know the community is relying on your Internet connection, and we’re here to support you.

IP Addresses

Google Fiber’s Community Connections service includes:

  • 5 static public IPv4 addresses (/29)
  • 256 IPv6 LAN networks (/56)
Service Demarcation

As a Community Connection site, you have the option to select either one Fiber Jack or one Network Box for your service demarcation. Each option has different benefits:

a) Fiber Jack

Fiber Jack

Google Fiber’s optical networking terminal (ONT) which converts from fiber-optic to electrical ethernet signal. Typically the preferred option for sites with their own on-premise routers and firewalls. Learn more

b) Network Box

Network Box

Google Fiber’s router with built-in firewall and Wi-Fi. Equivalent to our residential service and preferred by smaller organizations who do not have their own networking infrastructure. Learn more

Commercially Reasonable Construction

Commercially Reasonable Construction

Google Fiber will cover the cost of commercially reasonable construction and installation expenses. Two factors are considered to determine if construction is commercially reasonable:

  1. The location of the site relative to Google Fiber’s network
  2. The work that must be done on-site to route Google Fiber to the site's preferred demarcation

If construction is required beyond what Google deems commercially reasonable, construction will be completed at the site’s expense.

How to get connected

Fiberhood Schedule

Installations

Google Fiber will build out and bring service to fiberhoods that meet sign-up goals. If your fiberhood qualifies, installations for Community Connections will occur alongside other installations in your fiberhood.

Installations

When it is time to install in your fiberhood, we will contact you to schedule a meeting. At this time, we will evaluate the network engineering required to install your site and ask you to select your service demarcation (either Fiber Jack or Network Box, as outlined above). We will conduct a site survey, and then send networking designs for your approval before beginning installation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my Community Connections site get Google Fiber TV service as well?

No, Google Fiber for Community Connections is an Internet product only. Google Fiber TV is not included with this service and is only available to residential customers.

Can my site order additional connections?

At this time, we do not offer additional connections. If your site is interested in additional services from Google Fiber, please contact your Google Fiber Account Manager.

Can my site order additional Network Boxes and/or Fiber Jacks?

Google Fiber provides Community Connection sites with one demarcation, either via our Fiber Jack or Network Box. Additional equipment is not supported.

Will I need to purchase any new equipment (routers, etc.) to support the Google Fiber connection?

This depends on the capabilities of your site's existing network infrastructure and what your site is trying to achieve with gigabit Internet.

Once they have Google Fiber, many Community Connection sites are interested in enabling new high-bandwidth services for their participants. Supporting these services or upgrading existing services to take full advantage of the benefits of a symmetric gigabit Internet connection may require new equipment.

What is a gigabit?

One gigabit per second (Gbps) is a 1000 megabits per second (Mbps). Gigabit Internet is up to 100 times faster than today’s basic broadband, allowing you to get what you want that much faster.

What if I wish to extend service beyond the current term?

We will notify Community Connections of options for extending service towards the end of the current term.

How does this compare to my current service?

Your Google Fiber Account Manager can help answer this based on the specifics of your current service. Depending on the needs of your organization, your Community Connection could be a complement or replacement for current Internet services. Learn more about the benefits of Google Fiber's gigabit Internet.

What defines commercially reasonable construction?

There are a number of factors that determine if a site is commercially reasonable such as construction style and technique. This will vary for each site and this is why a site survey is conducted to determine if a site is commercially reasonable or not. It is important to note that a Community Connection is not guaranteed until this evaluation is complete and a contract has been signed with the site.

My site needs multiple static IP addresses. Will you provide that?

Google Fiber Community Connections will receive Static IPv4 addresses (/29).

Google Fiber Community Connections will also receive 256 IPv6 LAN networks (/56).

What service-level agreement (SLA) does this service include?

Google Fiber Community Connections benefit from:

  • fully dedicated 24x7 phone support, along with chat and email support
  • next business day on-site response, if necessary
I am part of a non-profit or public site in a Google Fiber city. How can I be considered for this program?

Community Connections in each city are selected by the city. In Kansas City, Kan. and central Kansas City, Mo. these lists are finalized.

How does each city select which sites receive free Google Fiber connections?

It is completely up to each city to select their Community Connections sites.

Customer support

If you are an approved Community Connections site and need help, please contact us at:

100 times faster Internet claim is based on the FCC’s benchmark for broadband of 4 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload. Go to Google Fiber Help Center for further details. Service not available in all areas.