Google Fiber Expanding: 34 US Cities Eligible For Ultra-Fast Gigabit Internet Network

Google Fiber has been so successful in Kansas City; Austin, Texas; and Provo, Utah that Google is now working with nine metropolitan areas in the U.S. to expand its ultra-high speed Internet network.

By the end of 2014, Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) plans to update where Google Fiber will go next, which could be as many as 34 U.S. cities.

“Between now and then, we’ll work closely with each city’s leaders on a joint planning process that will not only map out a Google Fiber network in detail, but also assess what unique local challenges we might face,” Milo Medin, the vice president of Google Access Services, wrote on the official Google blog. “These are such big jobs that advance planning goes a long way toward helping us stick to schedules and minimize disruption for residents.”

The metropolitan areas under consideration are the cities around Portland, Ore.; Salt Lake City; Phoenix; San Antonio; Nashville, Tenn.; Atlanta; Charlotte, N.C.; Raleigh-Durham, N.C.; and the San Francisco Bay area.

Before installing a Google Fiber network, Google must consider geographical features like hills and flood zones. Cities must also provide Google with a checklist of items that will help them prepare for Google Fiber, such as maps of water, gas and electricity lines.

Google acknowledged that these cities might not all get Google Fiber, but the company did say that the cities that go through the effort will be more prepared to receive the gigabit network in the future.

“Stay tuned for updates, and we hope this news inspires more communities across America to take steps to get to a gig,” Medin said.

While Los Angeles isn’t one of the companies mentioned by Google as a candidate for Google Fiber, the Southern California city has proposed its own initiative to bring Gigabit internet to its residents. AT&T has also revealed its own plans for an ultra-fast Internet work and plans to introduce a fiber network to Austin.