Historic Triangle Won't Get Google High-Speed Network

By Amber Lester Kennedy Thursday, March 31, 2011

Kansas City, Kan. beat out the Historic Triangle, along with more than 1,000 other cities, to become the first locality using Google’s ultra-broadband network.

More than one year ago, Google solicited localities to apply to become the test area for its new ultra-fast broadband network that will be 100 times faster than current broadband connections. The Historic Triangle localities banded together to aim for the prize, but Kansas City won the coveted contract.

“In selecting a city, our goal was to find a location where we could build efficiently, make an impact on the community and develop relationships with local government and community organizations. We’ve found this in Kansas City,” Google said on its official blog.

In March 2010, Williamsburg’s Communications Director Kate Hoving said the Triangle could offer Google a good partnership and support structure. Jody Puckett, spokeswoman for James City County, said the Triangle hoped to play up its history as the first permanent English settlement to make it appealing as a community to lead the “Information Revolution.”

Kansas City, Kan. has a population of 145,786 people. Google’s application requirement asked that localities have between 50,000 and 500,000 people. The plan still has to get approval from the city’s board of commissioners, but once approved, Google will offer service starting in 2012. The company still hopes to bring ultra high-speed Internet to other cities across the country.