Google today started signing up Provo residents for Google Fiber, starting with just “several thousand” that are residential customers of the local Veracity Networks. Sign-ups for the rest of Provo residents is now slated to open in January.
The reason Veracity customers are getting special treatment is simple: they’re already hooked up to Google’s newly-upgraded fiber system. This is because they were previously connected to the former iProvo network, so all they’re essentially doing is switching providers. Other Provo residents and local small businesses will have to wait till 2014; all they can do right now is sign up to be notified when Fiber arrives in their area.
In April, Google announced it wanted Provo to become its third Fiber city. A week later, the company received Provo city council approval to buy the city’s iProvo fiber network and roll out Google Fiber.
Google notes that because it acquired iProvo, the city’s sign-up process is different (and faster) than in Kansas City and Austin. Since Google doesn’t have to install thousands of miles of new fiber-optic cables, it can save on many months of planning, engineering, as well as construction and just upgrade the network to make it faster.
In August, Google revealed three Fiber plans for the city, each of which requires the customer to pay a $30 construction fee. Here’s what Provo residents have to choose from:
- Free Internet. Get today’s basic broadband speeds (up to 5 Mbps download, 1 Mbps upload) for free for at least the next seven years.
- Gigabit Internet. Connect to the web at speeds up to 100 times faster than basic broadband (up to 1 Gbps download and upload) for $70/month.
- Gigabit Internet + TV. Get 100 times faster Internet plus hundreds of HD channels. Record up to 8 shows at once and store up to 500 hours of HD content on your Storage Box for $120/month.
In order to get early access to Google Fiber, Google says residential Veracity customers should sign up before October 31. Those who live in apartment buildings or condos are being asked to tell their landlord they want Google Fiber and ask him or her to fill out this form. Everyone else, we think it’s time to seriously consider moving to Kansas, Austin, or Provo.
Top Image Credit: Spike Mafford
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