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Google Fiber has always supported a broad range of school programs that foster Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) skills. As part of that commitment, we’re proud sponsors of the Westside High School Esports program with a grant that enables students to participate and compete. With the ongoing success of the program, Head Coach Chase Tonkinson and team member Robert Rasgorshek share the impact the program is making and how GFiber has helped make that possible.
 
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In March of 2020, as schools across the country shut down due to the pandemic, our students at Westside High School in Omaha, Neb., were sent home for the remainder of the semester.  
 
Administrators in the school district had previously considered starting an Esports program, and facing the uncertainty of what would happen the following year, leadership knew it was a perfect opportunity to launch the program. “Esports” (or Electronic Sports) is organized, competitive video gaming that operates similarly to other high school sports, with teams from other schools competing against one another. These sports are in an online format, allowing connectivity from basically anywhere.   
 


School officials believed that Esports would allow students to stay engaged in school activities, despite COVID-19 regulations that kept students off campus. The district, Westside Community Schools, put out a call for anyone interested in helping launch and coach the new program, and when I saw the alert, I immediately recognized this unique opportunity to help create a new avenue for students to learn and connect. Within the year, I stepped into the role of Westside High School’s first-ever Esports coach. 
 
After one year of planning, our WHS team began competing in the fall of 2021. We weren’t exactly sure what to expect, but we were blown away by the amount of student interest we received. Within 24 hours, we had more than 50 students responding to our interest form, and by the time we closed the registration period two weeks later, more than 70 students had responded. This was far more than we anticipated and more than our newly-opened Esports lab could accommodate. This high turnout translated into success. Within our first season, WHS won the state championship trophy for all three games we competed in. The following year, we found ourselves taking home both regional and national championship trophies.  
 

The success of our Esports program spans far beyond the tournaments we’ve won.  Our program has brought together students from varying backgrounds, interests and skill levels, including varsity athletes, Special Olympics athletes, as well as students in band, show choir and theater.  


Our teams have also been a home to a number of students who had never before participated in a school activity or sport. The program opened the door and provided a new way to develop teamwork and communication skills, and also to be a part of a tight-knit community on campus. 
 
One of those students is Robert “Bert” Rasgorshek, who found far more than just a pastime through Westside Esports. 
 
“Being a part of Westside High School's Esports team has been one of the biggest highlights of my high school experience,” Bert shared. “Whether I was grouping up to push with my teammates in Overwatch, lining up a clutch shot in Valorant, or going one-on-one in Smash, I realized how valuable new strategies, communication, and staying calm under pressure are. 
 
“My teammates and coaches accepted me for the person I was and encouraged me to grow as a player, a teammate, and a leader. It also gave me something to look forward to after each day at school— something that continues to motivate me to stay focused and improve so I can keep playing. I've become friends with people I might never have met, and formed supportive and long-lasting bonds through our shared love for the game and competition.
 
“Even when we lost together, we learned together, we supported each other, and we came back stronger. This team gave me confidence, direction, and a sense of belonging in a time when I didn’t know which extracurricular I wanted to pursue. These lessons and memories are the things that I want to carry with me long after I’ve graduated high school.”


Having a team sponsor like GFiber has been integral in keeping our program going. Computer and video game equipment can be quite costly, and the support from GFiber helps us maintain our equipment and supply students with the latest games. The sponsorship has also enabled us to travel to in-person tournaments where our players meet with college coaches— many of those same players have gone on to earn Esports scholarships to their respective colleges.  
 
I look forward to continued collaboration with GFiber and to the future success this generous support enables our students to experience, both in school and in competition.  

Posted by :
Chase Tonkinson 
Head Coach, Westside High School Esports 
Robert “Bert” Rasgorshek 
Westside High School Esports Team Member 




 
 
 

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Google Fiber is officially available in Fort Mill and Tega Cay, South Carolina! Residents can sign up for the new lifestyle product that best fits their household —and we can’t wait for you to experience what your best internet can do.

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With speeds up to 8 Gigs — whether you’re streaming your favorite shows, working from home, gaming online, or all of the above, our fast, dependable lifestyle internet products are available to keep up with your life — GFiber can keep up and then some. As always, all products come with all the equipment you need and no data caps or annual contracts.

Check availability and sign up for service at fiber.google.com. If we’re not at your address just yet, we’ll keep you posted as we continue to expand our network.

A huge thank you for the warm welcome we’ve received in South Carolina. We’re proud to be part of the community and look forward to even stronger connections! 

Posted by Jess George, Head of Government and Community Affairs, East Region



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At GFiber, we’re always looking for ways to make fast, reliable internet even easier to use. That’s why we redesigned the GFiber App — to simplify how customers set up service, manage devices, and keep tabs on their network. The latest version is now live, and customers can download or update the app to get started.
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We’ve updated the user interface for a more intuitive experience that clearly reflects our commitment to simplicity and reliability. We've also introduced several new features, such as: 


greater visibility into home network performance, smarter device management, enhanced troubleshooting, and chat, content and video call support for customers
The app's redesign was shaped by customer feedback from user research and usability studies, which focused on making it easier, more intuitive, and delightful to use.

Redesigned for a smarter experience

We gave the GFiber App a fresh look and feel — one that better reflects our brand and makes everyday tasks simpler. Based on customer feedback, we added new features like video support, enhanced troubleshooting, and more visibility into network performance.

  • Streamlined navigation: A cleaner layout makes it easy to find what you need.
  • Smarter tools: Run speed tests, manage devices, and get help with just a few taps.
  • Helpful insights: Diagnostic tools and support options are more intuitive and actionable.


Bringing key features front and center

The redesigned app also makes it easier to find and access some of the most impactful features introduced over the past year. These tools not only improve internet performance but also provide greater transparency and control.

From sign-up to service



The GFiber App acts as a companion for a smooth setup experience right from day one. For in-home installs, technicians can help set up the app to optimize network performance. For customers who self-install, the app provides step-by-step guidance through every stage of the process — making setup simple and reliable, no matter how they get online.

Technician Tracker

Once the technician is en route, customers can see the location and ETA, making service appointments more predictable.


Network Health 


Customers using supported GFiber routers can now access the Network Health feature, which provides a real-time assessment of speed, coverage, and overall performance. They’ll also get actionable recommendations for optimizing their connection.

TechSee


Live video support gives customers the option to allow our customer support agents see connection issues in real-time and provide troubleshooting help without an in-person visit. 

Speed Test

The app now provides more details about your connection, distinguishing between: 
  • Speed to your home (wired test): Measures the speed from the GFiber network to your router (available on select devices).
  • Speed to your device (wireless test): Measures the speed from your router to your phone.
With these two tests, customers can see not just how fast your GFiber connection is, but also how their Wi-Fi network is performing – helping them optimize for the best experience.

Device Management 

For customers with a GFiber Wi-Fi 6E router — included with all new GFiber lifestyle products  (Core, Home, and Edge)  — the GFiber App provides a clear view of network activity and options to personalize settings, giving them greater control over how they use their internet.
  • See what’s connected: Check which devices are using your internet and view their Wi-Fi signal strength in real-time.
  • Custom naming and grouping: Devices can be organized easily by what’s important to you (like kids’ devices or type of device). 
  • Pause schedules and access controls: Internet access can be scheduled or paused for individual devices or groups of devices as needed.
  • Stronger security: Unknown devices can be easily blocked.
And this is just the beginning! The GFiber App is the center of our approach to make internet management simple and seamless for customers, and we’ll continue investing in ways to improve and evolve that experience.  

Posted by Sanjay Chatterjee, Head of Digital


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At GFiber, we’ve been pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with internet connectivity going back to 2010. So when we had the opportunity to test a promising new technology from Taara – a recent spinout from X, Alphabet’s moonshot factory – we jumped at the chance.

Taara uses wireless optical communication to transmit data through the air, delivering fiber-like speeds without the need for cables. It’s a game-changer for places where traditional fiber installation is challenging like city centers, remote communities, crowded events, and areas affected by network outages.

To see how this technology performs in real-world conditions, we partnered with Taara for a proof-of-concept trial of its laser link, Taara Lightbridge, in San Francisco. Over four weeks, we tested a high-speed wireless link between two buildings, measuring its performance across a variety of weather conditions.

Putting Taara to the Test
The trial ran from November to December 2024, using a 4.5-mile laser link. We monitored everything from throughput and latency to environmental factors like wind and rain, capturing data with a network monitoring system, high-resolution cameras, and weather sensors.

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The results? Taara delivered a rock-solid 20 Gbps connection on clear days with ultra-low latency and zero packet loss – on par with the best wired networks. It also outperformed traditional millimeter and microwave radios in throughput.

Key Takeaways
  • Speed & Stability: Throughout four weeks of testing, Taara provided a seamless high-speed connection on clear days and demonstrated resilience in challenging conditions, proving its ability to move serious amounts of data.
  • Network Flexibility: The system was quick to deploy and dismantle, making it an intriguing option for temporary or hard-to-reach locations.
  • Hybrid Potential: A planned microwave backup will help ensure a resilient connection, even in adverse weather conditions.
Our pilot program provided valuable insights into how this cutting-edge technology performs in an urban environment. As Taara continues refining its approach, we’re excited to see how innovations like this could shape the future of connectivity.

At GFiber, we believe in the power of innovation, collaboration, and bold ideas. Whether it’s delivering fast, reliable service over fiber or exploring new wireless solutions, we’re always looking for ways to bring better internet to more people.

The journey to better, faster internet continues – stick around for more on what’s coming next!

Posted by James Alexander, GFiber Network Engineer




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GFiber’s investment in digital equity goes beyond internet access. Through collaborations with organizations like Latinitas, we are helping to create a more inclusive digital ecosystem where all members of the community can thrive. 

In today’s increasingly connected world, digital literacy has become essential for personal, educational and professional success. Recognizing this, Latinitas, a nonprofit organization that empowers girls in Austin and San Antonio’s Latino communities to innovate through media and technology, has been at the forefront of digital inclusion through its Padres Digitales program. This initiative aims to empower parents with the skills and tools needed to navigate the digital landscape, ensuring they can support their children’s academic and professional aspirations in the digital age.

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The pressing need for digital inclusion 

Digital inclusion remains one of the most pressing issues in education and community development, particularly among underserved populations. For many families, access to technology and reliable internet is limited, creating barriers to resources, educational opportunities and the ability to engage with the growing digital world.

Padres Digitales seeks to eliminate these barriers by offering workshops that teach digital literacy and skills, focusing on everything from basic computer usage to understanding the digital tools necessary for remote learning, job searching and personal finance management.


Digital Literacy for Families

Digital literacy goes beyond learning how to use a computer. It’s about understanding the role of technology in education, how to access online resources and how to communicate effectively through digital platforms.

For parents, being digitally literate means being able to support their children in school, especially with the growing reliance on technology for remote learning and research. Moreover, digital literacy also opens doors to job opportunities, healthcare resources and civic participation, which are often conducted online.

Padres Digitales focuses on helping parents:

  1. Support children's education: Ensuring that children have access to digital tools and resources needed for homework, research and communication with teachers.
  2. Access online resources: Learning to navigate websites for essential services such as health care, financial assistance and legal aid.
  3. Enhance career opportunities: Gaining the skills needed to apply for jobs, update resumes and connect with potential employers through online platforms.
  4. Participate in civic engagement: Being able to vote online or access important government information in real time.
GFiber supports the Padres Digitales program in both Austin and San Antonio.  One parent who participated in the Padres Digitales program shared, “Before, I struggled to help my kids with their homework because I didn’t understand the tools they were using. Now, I feel more confident. I can help them with their studies and also learn how to navigate the internet for my own needs. This program has truly changed our lives.” 

A digital future for all

The collaboration between Latinitas and GFiber exemplifies the power of community-driven solutions to support digital inclusion. Through initiatives like Padres Digitales, more families are not only gaining access to the digital world, but they are also becoming active participants in shaping their own futures.

Posted by Salwa Yordi, Communications Director at Latinitas




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Murfreesboro, we’re live! Google Fiber is officially launching service, beginning with small businesses. The speed with which we’ve been able to launch service in Murfreesboro is a testament to the city’s commitment to innovation and to the ease of doing business in the city. Murfreesboro city leadership welcomed us and our desire to connect residents and businesses to quality high-speed internet, working closely with us to ensure a smooth and rapid deployment. Now, businesses, and soon residents as well, in Murfreesboro will be able to choose GFiber as their internet provider.

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Murfreesboro small businesses need fast, reliable internet. Whether it’s running a coffee shop like Just love Coffee, where GFiber is hosting an event celebrating the launch of service, or GFiber’s first SMB customer and the Boro’s hometown pharmacy Reeves Sain Drugstore, our 1 and 2 Gig business plans deliver the bandwidth needed to keep up with the not-so-small needs of their businesses. “At Reeves Sain Drug Store, we could not be more excited about the availability of Google Fiber for our health care operation. It is so important for us to have the best upload and download speed as we communicate with other health care providers, insurance companies, and credit card companies. This enables us to fill prescriptions and take care of patients in the best and most timely manner. GFiber allows us to do this, and all at the best price, which makes it even better! Thank you for bringing Google Fiber to 
Murfreesboro”, said Rick Sain who owns  Reeves Sain Drugstore.


Business owners can choose between Business 1 Gig ($100/month), perfect for simple, seamless connectivity, or Business 2 Gig ($250/month), ideal for busy shops or offices with multiple systems and users.


Residential service is also just around the corner in Murfreesboro. Residents will be able to choose the product that fits their household lifestyle best —  Core 1 Gig, Home 3 Gig and Edge 8 Gig. Whether you want to set it and forget or need internet that pushes the boundary on speed and reach, the right product will make sure your online time is all yours.

If you're interested in signing up and want updates on availability, sign up here for the latest on GFiber in Murfreesboro. 

Thank you, Murfreesboro, for welcoming GFiber. We’re excited to be part of your future, online and IRL!

Posted by Nick Fischer, General Manager, The South Region



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Google Fiber has broken ground in Missouri’s capital, marking the start of our network construction in the area. GFiber has been expanding our footprint in the Show Me State for over a decade.

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Since we announced our agreement with Jefferson City last year, we’ve been collaborating closely with city officials to ensure we can build our network efficiently and minimize disruption to residents and businesses.

In addition to beginning network construction, we’re also putting key facilities in place. Yesterday, we installed our first Jefferson City fiber hut. The fiber hut is a key component of our network, serving as a local distribution point connecting fiber lines to neighborhoods and ensuring reliable service. 

Hut being installed recently in Jefferson City.

We expect to start serving our first Jefferson City customers later this year and will continue construction across the community. Residents and business owners will then be able to choose from Google Fiber’s high-speed internet plans, featuring speeds up to 8 gigs to meet their internet needs.


For updates on construction progress and product availability, sign up here. We’re thrilled to bring GFiber to Jefferson City and look forward to connecting this historic and vibrant community.

Posted by Rachel Merlo, Head of Government Affairs and Community Affairs, Central Region



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Google Fiber’s Community Connections program provides gigabit internet service to local nonprofits to help them serve their constituencies and meet their organizational goals. Today, Empower House, the first GFiber Community Connection in San Antonio, shares how access to high-speed internet is helping the nonprofit foster an environment of empowerment and equity for people of all backgrounds.  

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With rising socio economic challenges in East San Antonio, a diverse group of women founded Martinez Street Women’s Center to improve reproductive health services and create a space for marginalized women and girls to access the necessary resources and education to help them succeed. 

Twenty-six years later, with a second location on the southeast side of the city and a third on the west side, we are now called Empower House and have expanded to meet the needs of our diverse community — all through the lens of restorative justice. Through community health, youth programming and advocacy opportunities, we have advanced our collective journey toward justice together with those most impacted by systematic inequity. 


Empower House believes in the strength shared information and education offer, and coupled with access to resources, we provide opportunities for the empowerment of our community. We shared that vision with the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center, and in 2017 added a music and talk radio station, KXEP 101.5 FM The Empower House. Hosting six weekly shows and, as a part of the Pacifica Network, KXEP has been a thriving community connector, sharing and amplifying inspiring stories from women of color, LBGTQ+ individuals and other traditionally marginalized communities. 


As our radio station continues to be a centerpiece with our community content creation, it was imperative to be innovative in finding solutions to grow the production. We recently built out a radio station and student studio to expand and modernize our space by providing our radio hosts with the necessary resources to strengthen their programming. 


The renovation was enabled in part through GFiber’s Community Connections program, which paid for the technology of the new student studio and generously installed 1 Gig network service for free. We are grateful and humbled to be the first recipient of GFiber’s Community Connections program in San Antonio. 


Through GFiber’s high-speed connection, we’re able to work quicker and smarter. Our radio studio has produced 14 local radio shows. We also added an on-demand feature on our website and a radio app that makes our programming more accessible on the go. Our online radio visitors continue to increase with current listenership at more than 17,000, who have downloaded more than 900 episodes to date from our website. 

With GFiber’s support, we outfitted our Student Studio enabling us to teach students of all ages the skills necessary to harness the technology for storytelling, recording and editing. The voices of the most marginalized amongst us have traditionally been underrepresented in radio and our rich history and culture deserves to be uplifted and highlighted by those of us that live it.


Additionally, GFiber provides 1 Gig service to our Digital Equity Center, which serves as a free WiFi hub for the community, with laptops and printers available for public use. 

Today, our extensive programming has served thousands of San Antonians, creating transformative change for future generations of families. And with the support of GFiber, we will continue to carry out our mission for decades to come. 

To learn more about our radio programming, please visit https://empowerhousesa.org/radio/.  

Posted by Becca Najera, Assistant Director, Empower House SA


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Google Fiber is coming to Douglas County! Today, the Douglas County Commission officially approved GFiber’s right of way agreement, allowing our team to connect even more Colorado neighborhoods to fast, reliable internet. 

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This is just the latest announcement in GFiber’s Colorado expansion efforts. Our team is continuing to work around the clock to deliver industry-leading speeds to residents in new areas of Lakewood, Golden, Adams County, Westminster and Wheat Ridge. We anticipate that Douglas County construction will begin later this year with service to customers available in 2026.  


In addition to serving customers in Lakewood and our GFiber Webpass customers in Denver, our team is settling into the community and excited to be working with some incredible local organizations. Last month, we opened our Lakewood office and we’ve been collaborating with the Latin American Educational Foundation to provide scholarships for some of the state’s brightest students. We also support the digital literacy efforts of Girls Inc, programs for parenting teens at Hope House and the Denver Scholarship Foundation. And we’re just getting started, as this latest announcement shows. 
 
Want to keep up with what’s happening with GFiber Douglas County or other parts of Denver? Sign up here to receive real-time updates and stay up to date on our progress.  
 
Posted by Alberto Garcia, Government and Community Affairs Manager




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UPDATE: As of May 9, GFiber’s new lifestyle products are now available in Kansas, Missouri, Texas, Nebraska, Iowa, and Colorado, as well as Utah, Idaho, Arizona, Alabama, Tennessee, and North Carolina. 

 

GFiber started on the premise that symmetrical 1 Gig at an accessible price is a necessity. As the internet has become ever more central to our lives — in how we work and learn, how we buy and sell not just goods but ideas, how we connect with our family, our friends, our communities, and our world — and bandwidth demands have continued to grow, this has proven ever more true. And how we offer internet needs to evolve to meet customers where they are online. Because one thing is always true at GFiber — we’re working to build the internet we all want, and as the internet changes, our products will keep up.  We are looking beyond speed and price to build the products that make sense for our customers.  


That’s why we’re rolling out a new suite of lifestyle-based products. As you may have heard, we’ve been piloting them in Tennessee and Alabama over the past couple of months, and today, we’re launching them in Arizona and North Carolina, with plans to make them available in other locations over the next month.

These new products — Core 1 Gig, Home 3 Gig, and Edge 8 Gig — are great on speed (both up and down), as you would expect from GFiber. But, fast is just the beginning, these products were designed to ensure your home network ubiquitously meets the needs of your household’s unique internet lifestyle.  There’s a product for everyone whether you just need fast and reliable internet for the basics, or internet is the lifeblood of your home with multiple people using many devices and several smart home connections, or you need internet for a no-limit gaming experience.  
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And while we think these products do offer a lot in addition to symmetrical speeds, great service, and good value — including new features based on your product selection, like tailored wired connections where you need internet most, an app that automatically keeps score and helps maximize performance, an advanced router capable of powering your Wi-Fi needs in every corner of your home (with WiFi 6E), battery backup to keep you up and running even when your power is out, and an Uptime Guarantee — we’re just getting started. We’ll continue to deliver new ways to enhance and personalize the internet experience to serve your evolving needs, preferences and lifestyles.  

Our new products are about finding the internet that fits you. Core 1 Gig is a premium product at a price that hasn’t changed since 2012 that makes it easy to set it and forget it. Home 3 Gig is built to meet the needs of today’s typical home, with multiple people working, learning, streaming, and anything else-ing simultaneously (at the same price as our previous 2 Gig plan). And Edge 8 Gig offers advanced tech capabilities at less than 2 cents per Mpbs (the best rate you’ll find on the market). But it’s not about just getting “more,” it’s about getting it right for you.

GFiber will keep working to evolve products and give customers an experience that meets their needs, and anticipates and exceeds their internet dreams. Just as we’ve done since the beginning, we’re working to build the internet we’ve always wanted, no matter what your online life looks like. So the only question is - what’s your lifestyle?

Posted by Liz Hsu, Head of Product


  


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