JEFFERSON CITY — The Jefferson City Council unanimously approved a right-of-way licensing agreement at its meeting Tuesday for Google Fiber (GFiber) to begin construction on a fiber optic network.
Construction is projected to start later this year. GFiber hopes to connect its first customers to fast, reliable internet by 2025.
According to Rachel Merlo, Google Fiber’s central region head of government and community affairs, GFiber is an internet-service only provider.
GFiber has been serving Missouri since 2012 in the Kansas City metro area.
Erin Wiseman is the Third Ward city council member for Jefferson City. She says it’s a really exciting time for Jefferson City.
“The fact that Google fiber looks at our town as an opportunity to expand really means that we are a town that needs that sort of service,” Wiseman said.
Wiseman believes Jefferson City needs more competition in the Third Ward and throughout the city.
“We have some internet deserts, where people either just don’t have service or they don’t have anything except for one option.”
Jefferson City has three options for internet services right now, which are Bright Speed, Mediacom, and Socket.
Over the years, Wiseman has received several complaints about varies internet providers.
“It could be because of a storm, or it could be because of a regular day,” Wiseman said. “I have also received complaints because of the lack of providers.”
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Wiseman is glad that Google Fiber chose to expand their services in Jefferson City, due to it being a real problem in the city and rural Missouri.
“I hope it makes cost of internet more competitive, I hope it makes it more competitive for each of the homeowners or businesses so that way they have more choices and I also hope it allows better speeds within our communities,” Wiseman said.
Another council member says his family in Kansas City really loves Google Fiber. Jeff Ahlers is the First Ward city council member for Jefferson City.
Ahlers likes Google Fiber expanding in Jefferson City because it brings more competition. He also said, “Google Fiber is supposed to be a lot better.”
Ahlers hopes that by Google Fiber being added to Jefferson City internet service providers that it should make other providers like Mediacom or Socket “step up their game.”
“Everybody nowadays wants everything fast. You know at the top like you should be able to click it and get it, so I envision Google Fiber to bring a little bit of speed,” Ahlers said.
The price is $70 dollars/month for one Gigabyte. Google also offers 2GB, 5GB and 8GB plans to continue to innovate as internet demands grow.
The agreement also includes a 1% compensation component toward the city for use of the rights of way.
The buildout is estimated to take two to three years to get through Jefferson City. The duration will depend on factors like the weather, how quickly permits can be issued, city affairs, etc.
According to Merlo, GFiber will here “be here for years to come,” adapting with Jefferson City as it expands.