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In March 2011, Google announced that it had selected Kansas City, Kansas for its first ultra-high-speed fiber network. Seven weeks later, it announced that Kansas City, Missouri would also be part of Google Fiber.
Since that time, the two cities have worked together in unprecedented ways, transcending the physical connections that the fiber network will bring to reach new heights of local government cooperation.
From the highest elected officials on down, the two cities are committed to collaboration, innovation and technology that will cross jurisdictional boundaries to move both cities forward.
"The potential is phenomenal. We're taking the region to a place it's never been."
-- Mayor Joe Reardon
“If you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go far, go together.”
-- Mayor Sly James
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The Plays
ENSURE UNIVERSAL ACCESS AND CAPACITY
Digital Inclusion — specific strategies to help provide access for residents and businesses where it does not naturally occur in the open market.
Community Education and Awareness — Programs to promote digital literacy and responsible use of the Internet.
Digital Infrastructure — Ensuring access in every part of the community by incorporating technology needs into local government infrastructure plans.
Fiber to the Community — Working with Internet service providers to promote affordable, universal high-speed access to homes, businesses and community facilities.
DRIVE INNOVATION THROUGH DEMONSTRATION
Pilot projects — some already underway and others in the very early stages of development — will demonstrate the potential of ultra-high-speed fiber in every sector of community life.
Mesh Wi-Fi Networks — Supplementing fiber-to-the home with wireless networks that reach underserved areas and targeted business locations
House of the Future — Installing state-of-the-art hardware in model homes as a testing ground for entrepreneurs and demonstration of practical applications for gigabit speeds.
Pre-K Teacher Coaching — Using high-speed fiber to support real-time teacher coaching, building virtual learning communities and improving educational outcomes for young children.
K-12 Classroom Demonstrations — Developing pilot projects that focus on developing new instructional techniques and learning methods that help teachers and students take full advantage of technology.
Libraries Pilot — Encouraging collaboration among libraries to enhance and extend distance-learning opportunities and sharing of resources.
Digital Arts — Building on the Kansas City region’s reputation as America’s Creative Crossroads by undertaking arts innovations that take advantage of highspeed broadband access.
Telehealth Pilot — Demonstrating the advantages of using high-speed broadband to provide diagnostic and other services to patients in appropriate settings, including primary care offices, safety net facilities, schools, at home and at work.
Medical Reimbursement — Initiating a pilot insurance reimbursement model that allows health care providers to implement new telemedicine solutions for improved health outcomes.
Innovation in Government — Devising ways that local governments can improve services, enhance collaboration and engage citizens, becoming more responsive, resilient and efficient.
EXPAND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES
University Research Capacity — Accelerating local economic development and innovation processes by developing significant relationships, supported by ultra-highspeed fiber technology, among leading research and educational institutions.
IT Workforce Development — Growing a qualified workforce to meet the current and anticipated demand for information technology jobs in the Greater Kansas City area.
Proof-of-Concept and Fab Labs — Developing rapid prototype demonstration and manufacturing facilities that allow vendors and entrepreneurs to test new designs and concepts without major capital expenditures.
Technology Transfer — Connecting researchers at area universities, health care institutions and large companies that develop intellectual property with individuals and companies who are able to bring these ideas to the commercial marketplace.
Support Online Gaming Development — Enabling and encouraging the development of gaming development businesses and creative talent in the community.
Tech Districts — Facilitating the expansion of specified geographic districts that can provide a focal point for collaborative workspaces, innovation incentives and gigabit infrastructure.
Access to Capital — Increasing access to capital for new technology-related business development and business expansion.
ESTABLISH GLOBAL LEADERSHIP
Global Roundtables — Conducting a series of global telepresence roundtables to establish Kansas City as an emerging global leader in the new digital economy and accelerate economic development and innovation.
Convention Center Technology — Developing strategies to take advantage of the region’s fiber network to market convention and meeting facilities to groups that place a premium on high-speed Internet access and bandwidth.
Marketing the Region — Developing a marketing campaign to capitalize on the new high-speed fiber network by positioning Kansas City as both a thriving national hub for arts and culture, and an important technology center supporting entrepreneurs and business innovation.
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