List finalized for Google Fiber Community Connections

The list of organizations receiving a Google Fiber connection through the Community Connections program was finalized by Austin City Council at the Dec. 12 meeting.

The Community Connections program that focuses on providing free Google Fiber connections to primarily public and nonprofit facilities that directly provide services to Austinites. Google also has agreed to provide its fiber Internet service for free to Austin City Hall and the new Central Library.

The council approved 100 locations on a 6–0 vote, including a last-minute addition of the Boys and Girls Club at 211 W. Johanna St., after Councilwoman Kathie Tovo's suggestion. Tovo recused herself from the vote. Other organizations included in the program are Austin ISD high schools, The Long Center for the Performing Arts and many branches of the Austin Public Library system.

For any openings on the list that may surface after its approval, the city manager will collect recommendations for consideration from council members and provide that information to the Emerging Technology and Telecommunications Council Committee. The Committee will give a recommendation to council, which will then make the final decision.

"We had a very formal process that we all adopted with criteria and everything for this major push," Morrison said. "I think the idea would be to try and make it informal in the event we have to do this again.

Other organizations council members expressed interest in for future consideration included The Asian American Resource Center and Austin/Bergstrom International Airport.

The Internet network will have speeds up to one gigabit per second and is expected to be more than 100 times faster than existing Internet access available to Austin homes.