Google Fiber Explores 34 Cities for Expansion

Google Fiber: It's not just in Kansas anymore. Google has announced 34 cities in nine metro areas—including San Jose, Atlanta, Nashville, Portland, Salt Lake City, and Phoenix—as possible destinations to expand its fiber-optic network, offering lightning-fast Internet and cable. "People are hungrier than ever for faster Internet, and as a result, cities across America are making speed a priority," the company says, per the Verge. But while Google notes it "genuinely would like to build in all of these cities," it could choose all, none, or some; teams are first "hitting the road" and "conducting detailed studies" on the local topography and infrastructure, Ars Technica reports.

Already at work in Kansas City and Provo, Utah, and with plans for Austin, Texas, and Shawnee, Kansas, Google Fiber's gigabit speeds will likely worry the competition. Plus, a telecommunications analyst tells the Kansas City Star that Cox Communications, Time Warner Cable, and Comcast (the latter two of which plan to merge) dominate all nine markets. But a larger customer base could give Google a leg up on negotiations for its TV lineup, which is still without some popular channels, the Star notes. The chosen cities should be announced at the end of the year. For the full list of those being considered, click here. (More Google Fiber stories.)