Central Library (downtown), 14th West 10th St., Kansas City, MO, 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Union Station Grant Hall, 30 West Pershing Rd. #400, Kansas City, MO, 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Main Library, 625 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, KS, 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Northeast Branch Library, 6000 Wilson Rd., Kansas City, MO, 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Outside Papa Lews Restaurant, 2128 East 12th St., Kansas City, MO, 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Nutter Ivanhoe Neighborhood Center, 3700 Woodland Ave., Kansas City, MO, 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Bluford Branch Library, 3050 Prospect Ave., Kansas City, MO, 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Miracle Temple Church, 2106 Quindaro Blvd., Kansas City, KS, 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. West Wyandotte Library, 1737 North 82nd St., Kansas City, KS, 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Dollar General parking lot, East 73rd St. & Prospect Ave., Kansas City, MO, 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Our Fiber Team will also make stops throughout the week in various Kansas City fiberhoods, so please say hello, pre-register and spread the word if you see us. And as always, we’re at the Fiber Space at 1814 Westport Rd. to assist you. Stop by at any of these locations. We’d love to see you!
Posted by Carlos Casas, Google Fiber Team Manager
But aside from offering a good product, we’re also trying to be different in another way—we want to listen to customer feedback and implement it into our service. So, when some Kansas Citians asked us to review their pre-registration goals, we listened.
Our build-by-demand model is unique. It will keep our prices low by using efficient networking and construction processes. And, in order to make it work, we need accurate data to define the number of residential addresses in each fiberhood. Since we were hearing some concerns about pre-registration goals, we sent our street teams back out into Kansas City, Kan. and Kansas City, Mo. to figure out what changes we needed to make.
Counting and confirming addresses in this way is actually a pretty difficult process. We found that, while we’d relied on a variety of sources to determine how many residences were in each fiberhood, the data wasn’t 100% accurate—specifically around vacant lots, abandoned homes and large apartment buildings—and therefore affected our pre-registration goals. Based on our new (and better) data, we’ve decided to adjust some fiberhood pre-registration thresholds.
The changes slightly affect 73 fiberhoods. Out of these fiberhoods, the ones that are below their pre-registration goals are now closer to getting qualified. For the affected fiberhoods that were already past their goals, they now have a higher pre-registration percentage, which means they may get fiber sooner. You can look on our Kansas City, Kan. Fiber page or our Kansas City, Mo. Fiber page to check on the status of your fiberhood.
Many thanks to the Kansas Citians who followed up with us about their fiberhoods. It’s really helpful to have your feedback and suggestions! There are only 9 days left until the end of pre-registration, so hopefully some of these new goals will encourage you to pre-register now and help your fiberhood to meet its goal. In the meantime, come visit us if you have any questions.
Posted by Kevin Lo, General Manager, Google Access
How much will the TV boxes cost? Your first TV box - plus the Nexus 7 Tablet - are included for free in the Gigabit + TV package. For those of you who want Google Fiber on multiple televisions in your home, you can add extra TV Boxes for $5 each/month for 24 months. You also have the option to purchase TV boxes upfront for $120/ea. Extra boxes include a standard remote control but not a tablet.
What will the wiring and equipment look like? I don’t want my Fiber installation to affect the aesthetics of my house! We hear you! We made our devices sleek and small so they don’t overtake your living room. We want you to notice Google Fiber’s high speeds and great experience, not the wiring or devices.
Our installers will go over all the details with you when they arrive to make sure you’re comfortable with exactly what is being installed and where it is going, but here’s a basic overview for now At first, the majority of our work in your fiberhood will be outside, getting Google Fiber ready to bring to homes. We’ll be stringing Fiber on utility poles, and, in some cases, installing it in the ground. Next, we’ll bring our Fiber connection from the street to the side of your house. This will happen before your scheduled installation appointment, but we will let you know that we’re coming and knock on your door before we go to the side of your house. Once Fiber is connected to the side of your house, we’ll contact you to schedule your installation. On your installation day the first thing we’ll do is drill a hole (tiny) in an exterior wall to bring the fiber inside. Then, we’ll cover the hole with a mounted wall plate and Fiber Jack on the interior wall. The Fiber Jack, which is about the size of a deck of cards, will convert the fiber into a gigabit Ethernet connection, which will then connect to your Network Box. The Network Box is your Google Fiber router, enabling wired and wireless connectivity to all devices throughout your house. You get to decide where everything will go (within reason). Our installer will be happy to help you figure out device placement. If you are a Gigabit + TV customer, the final installation step will include installing the Storage Box right next to the Network Box and then hooking up each of the TV Boxes you’ve ordered.
I’m not sure if I’ll still be in my house in a year. Tell me more about the contracts and terms of service. The answer to this question will probably depend a lot on the construction timing for your fiberhood and your potential move plans. During the signup period, we'll be more than happy to discuss and help you think through your specific options, and, of course, you can review all of the subscriber terms when you sign-up. But the basic answer is as follows:
You can cancel your service any time before we begin construction in your fiberhood (only your $10 registration fee is non-refundable). If you decide to cancel Google Fiber service after it has been installed at your home, you’ll be responsible for:
$300 Construction Fee:
if you have had any Google Fiber service for more than one year, you owe nothing if you paid the construction fee in full, you owe nothing otherwise, you owe $25 x the number of months remaining in your first year of service
Devices for Gigabit + TV Customers:
if you have had Gigabit + TV service for more than two years, you owe nothing otherwise, you may return the devices in good working order within 45 days of cancellation or you may pay a prorated amount based upon the value of the devices
If you own your home and are considering a move, you may want to think about Google Fiber as a home-improvement. According to the Fiber-to-the-Home Council, a fiber drop can add thousands of dollars in value to the appraisal value of a house.
Where are the hidden costs? What’s the fine print? There are none. These aren’t promotional rates. We won’t make you call us every six months to keep the price you see on the website. You don’t need to cancel and then restart to get a better “online offer.” No shenanigans; just fast Internet and simple service. We want you to spend your time discovering what 100x the possibilities looks like, not on the phone with us. (Unless you want to call us, in which case, we’d love to chat!)
As always, if you have questions above and beyond what we’ve covered here, please visit us at 1814 Westport Rd., Kansas City, MO or get in touch with us at 866-777-7550.
Posted by Lisa Haffenreffer, Google Fiber Service Delivery Team
There are only 12 days left until the Google Fiber rally ends, and some fiberhoods still haven’t reached their pre-registration goals. Your community needs your help. Mobilize your neighbors, otherwise the opportunity to get a gig might pass you by. And remember, not only will you be able to enjoy Google Fiber at your home, your community will also see the benefits, since we’ll be connecting schools, libraries, hospitals and more in qualified fiberhoods.
Here’s what you can do:
There’s not a lot of time left, and we’re eager to help you and your neighbors with as much information as you’d like about Google Fiber. If you want to become a Google Fiber Ambassador, fill out this form and we’ll get back to you shortly. You can also download informational flyers right here to print and share. And if you want a Google Fiber sign for your yard, come pick one up at our our Fiber Space at 1814 Westport Rd. where you can also see demos of what a gig can do, ask questions in person to members of our Google Fiber team, and get help with pre-registration.
We’ll also be holding several events around town during the rest of the rally, including a pre-registration drive from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM next Saturday, September 8 at the Fiber Space Lounge. Bring your friends and neighbors for some food and fun entertainment.
Finally, as always, please check out our online FAQ or contact us by email, chat, or phone anytime. We’re here to help!
Mi familia vino desde la Ciudad de México a Kansas City cuando yo tenía once años. No fue fácil. De repente, me encontré sumergido en una cultura nueva y, para empeorar las cosas, no sabía nada de inglés. Esto podría haber sido un grave problema para mi educación y desarrollo, pero lo que sucedió en su lugar es testimonio de la gran comunidad de apoyo que tenemos en KC. El Guadalupe Centers ayudó a mi familia a buscar un lugar para vivir, se aseguró de que había comida suficiente en nuestra mesa y colaboró a que mi hermana y yo entráramos a la escuela. Mi profesora de la escuela Northeast Middle School, Ms. Peterson, se esforzó todo lo que pudo para ayudarme a aprender inglés y a ponerme al día con mis estudios. Después de años de duro trabajo, recibí una beca para ir a la Pembroke Hill School, y más adelante pasé a estudiar en la Universidad de Kansas. Me cuesta trabajo imaginar cómo hacer todo esto sin acceso a Internet. Todavía recuerdo el día en que mi mamá nos consiguió nuestra primera computadora, y cuánto más fácil se me hizo el aprender, estudiar y permanecer en contacto con mi familia en México.
Hoy trabajo en el equipo de Google Fiber aquí en Kansas City. Y ahora, más que nunca, creo que el acceso a Internet es esencial. La Web no es sólo para el establecimiento de una red social y para e-mail: consiste en encontrar y solicitar trabajos. Consiste en educación y gestión financiera inteligentes. Quiero poder devolverle a esta comunidad que me ha dado tanto, y ayudar a todos a tener acceso a Internet.
Este artículo está escrito específicamente para aquellos de nosotros que hablamos español. Queremos que sepan todo sobre Google Fiber, las ventajas que podría traer a nuestra comunidad, y cómo pueden registrarse para recibir el servicio.
Para hacer eso, contamos con algunos recursos que puedes utilizar:
Nuestro sitio Web está disponible en español. Para ver en qué consiste Google Fiber, cuánto cuesta y cómo conseguirlo, visita nuestra página Web en español.
Contamos con materiales educativos en español. Ven a este sitio Web si quieres leer o descargar un folleto informativo con Google Fiber planes y precios. También tenemos folletos informativos en nuestro espacio Fiber Space en el 1814 de Westport Rd, de los que estaremos encantados de darte copias si nos visitas.
Tenemos representantes de Atención al Cliente que hablan español. Quieren hablar contigo y contestar a tus preguntas acerca de Fiber. Llámalos al (866) 777-7550 y pulsa uno para español.
La comunidad de Kansas City es muy importante para mí. Y deseo hacer todo lo que pueda para ayudar a que todos puedan conectarse. Si te interesa Fiber, aprovecha por favor estas oportunidades para obtener más información sobre el servicio. Y, si tienes preguntas, siempre puedes venir y hablar conmigo en el Fiber Space. Esperamos verte allí.
Publicado por Carlos Casas, Manager del equipo de Google Fiber
My family moved from Mexico City to Kansas City when I was eleven years old. It wasn’t easy. I was suddenly immersed in an entirely new culture, and, to make matters worse, I didn’t know any English. This could have been a big problem for my education and development—but what happened instead is a testament to the supportive community we have in KC. The Guadalupe Centers helped my family find a place to live, made sure we had food on our table and helped my sister and me get into school. My teacher at Northeast Middle School, Ms. Peterson, went above and beyond to help me learn English and get me caught up with my studies. After years of hard work, I received a scholarship to the Pembroke Hill School, and later went on to the University of Kansas. It’s hard for me to imagine going through my journey without access to the Internet. I still remember the day my mom got us our first computer, and how much easier it made learning, studying and staying in touch with my family back in Mexico.
Today I work on the Google Fiber team here in Kansas City. And now, more than ever, I believe that access to the Internet is important. The web isn’t just about social networking and email—it’s about finding and applying for jobs. It’s about smart financial management and education. I want to give back to the community that has given me so much, and help them get online.
This post is specifically for those of you who speak Spanish. We want to tell you all about Google Fiber, the benefits that it could bring to our community, and how you can pre-register for service.
To do that, we have some resources that you can use:
Our website is available in Spanish. Visit our Spanish website to learn about what Google Fiber is, how much it costs and how to get it.
We have educational materials in Spanish. Visit this website to read or download a brochure with information about Google Fiber plans and prices. We also have flyers with information at our Fiber Space at 1814 Westport Rd, and we’re happy to give you copies if you come visit us.
We have customer service representatives who speak Spanish. They want to talk to you and answer your questions about Fiber. Give them a call at (866) 777-7550 and press one for Spanish.
The Kansas City community is so important to me. And I want to do everything I can to help everyone get connected. If you’re interested in Fiber, please take advantage of all of these great opportunities to learn about service. And, if you have questions, you can always come and talk to me at the Fiber Space. Looking forward to seeing you there.
Since pre-registration opened on July 26th, we’ve been verifying residential addresses reported to us via customer support or website address reviews. So far we’ve been able to resolve over half of the open questions from MDUs and single family homes. The remaining addresses, mainly in MDUs, required a deeper level of verification. In order to confirm these, we’ve been contacting property owners and managers. We’ve also visited hundreds of condos and apartment complexes to get a list of unit numbers.
We’re hard at work updating our address data and responding to the remaining customers later this week. I promise we’re putting all hands on deck to close this out ASAP.
Thank you to @jasonfharper, @bigcomedown, and all the other Kansas Citians who have contacted us regarding this issue.
Posted by Alana Karen, Director, Service Delivery, Google Fiber @gfiberalana
Join us this Sunday, August 19th, at the Fiber Space where we’ll be hosting demonstrations and answering questions about what Google Fiber means for education in Kansas City. We’ve also lined up some unique local entertainment and treats for guests, including storytelling via telepresence, face painting, special Google Fiber schwag and of course, food.
If you’re interested in the impact that Google Fiber can have on education and you can’t wait to join us on Sunday, you can learn more now. Check out this blog post about technology and education, written by Dr. Cynthia Lane, superintendent of Kansas City, Kan. Public Schools. You can also tune in on our YouTube channel to hear some thoughts from fellow Kansas Citians.
Please drop in and join us on Sunday and help spread the word to other faculty, students, and parents!
Event Recap: Back to School Day at the Fiber Space Sunday, August 19, 2012 Noon to 6:00PM 1814 Westport Rd. Kansas City, MO
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Posted by Rachel Hack, Community Manager, Google Fiber
Almost 100 years ago, the poet Kahlil Gibran wrote of children: “...Their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.” When I think about the students in the Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools and about their futures, I realize that the world that they are growing into will be very much different than the world that my generation grew into. Life moves forward, not backward, and it is our job to help our students move forward into their world.
To do this, we have a goal as a system: “Every student will graduate prepared for college and careers in a global society, and at every level, students will be on-track and on-time for success.” One of the things that every student will need to graduate prepared for college and careers is a strong experience with and ability to use technology. Unfortunately, in a district where more than 85% of our students are eligible for free/reduced lunch, many of our students would not ordinarily have access to technology at home. That is the reason that, back in 2007, our district made the decision to lease a laptop computer for every high school student.
Now in the sixth year of the Laptop for Learning program, our students have used their laptops to move away from being merely “consumers” of information ten years ago, to being “producers” of information and knowledge today. Among other things, they have used their computers to create impressive multi-media presentations, to design provocative works of art, and to sequence DNA in a plant that had never been sequenced before.
Even with this tremendous power in their hands, many of our students have suffered by not having 24/7 access to the full power of technology that comes from having access to the Internet. For that reason, I was thrilled when I learned that Google Fiber was going to bring high-speed connectivity to Kansas City, Kansas. Having access to blazing-fast Internet speeds, both at school and at home, will open up our students’ lives and accelerate their learning, in a number of ways.
First, it will help to connect them to the world, allowing them to use technology both to see the world and to bring the world to them. Next, it will allow us to “flip” the classroom, giving students access to high-quality videos at home, where they can learn at their own pace, while classroom time can be used for practice, working collaboratively with other students under the guidance of their instructors.
Finally, it will help us to share all of the wonderful things happening in our schools with our community and the world. We will be able to broadcast musical and theatrical performances, debate and forensic tournaments, athletic events, and even academic “assessments,” where students demonstrate their knowledge of a subject through a live “demonstration.”
High-speed fiber will make a tremendous difference for this community and for our students. I am thrilled that Kansas City, Kansas has been given the opportunity to participate in the beginning of this amazing revolution.
Posted by Dr. Cynthia Lane, Superintendent of the Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools
On our website we’ve updated our Plans & Pricing page to be clearer about which channels will be offered with our Gigabit + TV package. Right now there are about 185 channels included, and we’ll continue to add more of your favorites over the next few months. So, for $120, our Gigabit + TV subscribers will get all of these channels, along with a new Nexus 7 tablet (which doubles as your new remote) and ultra fast Gigabit Internet. You’ll also get HD content and a DVR with 2TB of storage that can record up to 8 shows at a time for no extra charge. And remember, for this package we’re waiving the $300 construction fee.
For our TV customers who are also movie fans, there’s more. We’re excited to offer both Starz and Showtime as optional add-on packages. Both packages are full of popular HD movie channels, with enough action, drama, and family-oriented programming to keep movie lovers happy for years. Our Gigabit + TV customers can add on 17 Starz channels for an additional $10 per month. They can also add on 11 Showtime channels for an additional $10 per month.
Finally, our TV service already offers some great Spanish-language programming. But we’ll also have some additional popular Hispanic channels available for an additional $5 per month, including Univision tlnovelas, Bandamax, and Telehit.
In summary, here are the three new add-on packages that will be available for our Gigabit + TV customers:
• Starz ($10/month for Gigabit + TV customers): Starz, Starz Cinema, Starz Comedy, Starz Edge, Starz in Black, Starz Kids and Family, Encore, Encore Action, Encore Español, Encore Family, Encore Love, Encore Drama, Encore Suspense, Encore Westerns, IndiePlex, MoviePlex, RetroPlex
• Showtime ($10/month for Gigabit + TV customers): Showtime, Sho2, Sho Beyond, Showtime Extreme, Showtime Family Zone, Sho Next, Showtime Showcase, Sho Women, Flix, The Movie Channel, The Movie Channel Xtra
• Hispanic ($5/month for Gigabit + TV customers): Univision tlnovelas, FOROTv, Telehit, Bandamax, Ritomoson Latino, De Película, De Película Clásico
All of these channels are also listed on our website, which we’ll continue to update with more information as we add new programming. Stay tuned!
Posted by Larry Yang, Senior Product Manager, Google Fiber
I bet I know what bothers you because it bugs me too. I don’t want to wait on hold. I don’t want to talk to a phone system. I want to talk to one human who knows the answer and can solve my problem quickly. I also want good chat and email options for the times when I can’t talk. When you come to my house, I want you to respect my time and property. And please give me an option of somewhere local where I can talk to you face-to-face. Respect me, and I’ll reward you with my business for years to come.
Day by day, we’ve been making this possible. I hired a great team—a close-knit combination of Google Fiber team members spread across Mountain View, Austin and Kansas City. These are all people who have something to prove; we want to solve problems and change your mind about customer support. We’re training our whole team on friendly processes and smart tools, so that any one of us can handle almost any call. We’re also focused on getting your installation right by showing up when we say we will and doing the job right the first time. We want to surprise you (in a good way).
Right now we’re focused on answering your rally questions, particularly for those of you in fiberhoods whose addresses are not yet recognized by our system. We know resolution there has been slow, and we’re speeding that up. Keep the feedback coming, and we’ll keep learning and improving.
I won’t lie—customer service is hard to do at scale and harder to do with a new product. But hard isn’t impossible, and really, it’s our job. No excuses here. Call us, email or chat; we can’t wait to hear from you.
Posted by Alana Karen, Director of Service Delivery, Google Fiber @GFiberAlana
Like last week, there are a few common questions that are popping up frequently—so let’s take a moment to clear them up here on our blog:
1. When I tried to pre-register for Fiber, I had to submit my address for review. This was a few days ago and I haven’t heard back yet. What’s going on? Don’t worry—we have your request and we’re getting to it. We want to make sure we’re thoroughly reviewing every address we receive. This process takes time, but we’re increasing the number of people on our team who are working on this, and we’ll get back to you shortly.
2. I live in an apartment building and I keep getting a pre-registration error. What should I do? We’re sorry about the inconvenience. We know that we’re having a processing problem with some unit numbers in apartment buildings, but we’re working to fix it. Be sure to fill out our address review form and we’ll get back to you within a few days’ time.
3. I own and rent out property and I want to get Google Fiber. What should I do? First, ask your tenants to pre-register for Google Fiber. Then, please visit this website and provide us with your contact information. If your fiberhood qualifies, we’ll be in touch with you to discuss the details about hooking up your building(s).
4. I completed my pre-registration without having to pay $10. Am I still pre-registered? No. If you did not enter your credit, debit or prepaid debit card, you did not complete the pre-registration process yet. Please visit fiber.google.com and pre-register now.
Hopefully this helps. And, as always, if you have any other questions you can just give us a call, chat with us or email us and we'll help you out. Or come see us at the Fiber Space, 1814 Westport Road in Kansas City, MO.
Next week, we hope to welcome three more communities in Kansas into our Google Fiber service area. We’re happy to announce that we’ve reached a tentative agreement to bring Fiber to the cities of Westwood, Westwood Hills and Mission Woods, Kan. Pending approval from each of the three City Councils, we plan to include these communities in a future rally for Google Fiber (timing to be announced, so stay tuned).
To be clear, this does not change the construction schedule for eligible homes in Kansas City, Kan. and Central Kansas City, Mo. And homes in North and South Kansas City, Mo. will still be able to pre-register for Fiber in our second rally. Today we are simply adding three new Google Fiber communities for a future rally.
To our new communities, welcome! And to Kansas City, Kan. and Kansas City, Mo., keep the pre-registration going. We can't wait to bring a gig to your fiberhoods soon.
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