Lawrence, Kan., is the latest city to propose building out its own fiber to the home (FTTH) network that will be able to offer the same 1 Gbps speeds Google Fiber (NASDAQ: GOOG) is offering today in Kansas City, reports the Lawrence Journal-World.
The city is not entirely going it alone with this proposed project. On Tuesday, a city advisory board recommended that the city provide a $1 million guarantee for Lawrence-based Wicked Broadband to launch a pilot FTTH project.
"The clock is ticking here," said Douglas County Commissioner Mike Gaughan, a member of the city's Public Incentives Review Committee. "We don't need to be falling further behind in getting high-speed Internet into the community."
In a 3-2 vote, the city's incentives review board recommended that it approve the loan guarantee and other elements, including the use of some of Lawrence's own fiber, for the pilot. The proposal will be submitted to the Lawrence City Commission.
Josh Montgomery, one of the two owners of Wicked Broadband, said that if the pilot works out they would be able to get private funding to provide the fiber-based service throughout the entire city. He expects the expansion of the service would cost $30 million.
If the project is approved, Wicked Broadband would offer 1 Gbps residential fiber-based service for $99 a month and a "slightly slower" speed for $49 a month. Customers that want the service would be required to pay a one-time $300 construction fee. In addition to data, Montgomery told the Lawrence Journal-World it would offer TV service from about $20 to $50 a month.
For more:
- Lawrence Journal-World has this article
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