Google Fiber Experiment in KCK: How will the project impact the "digital divide?"
The selection of Kansas City, Kansas as the area to build a high-speed network has been widely celebrated in this area, yet raises questions about how it will address a "digital divide" that limits residents' affordable access to the Internet.
Several news reports by local and national media outlets reinforced the importance to the local economy and development, like the March 30, 2011 editorial in the Kansas City Star, "Believe it: This is a big deal in an era when Internet speed is key to productivity in business, medicine and education." While the Star cheers the announcement another report a day before and one by Mary Sanchez described the demise of a statewide education network that benefited 400 Kansas schools. These two merging activities show the risk to lack of planning or oversight to technology: the expansion of the digital divide for low-income and rural communities.
A report on a April 4, 2011 radio report produced by KC Currents' Sylvia Maria Gross focused rare attention on services for low-income people in Kansas City, Kansas when mentioning the city's "high poverty rate. And like similar places around the country, [Mayor] Reardon says there's a digital divide between those who have access to the internet, and those who don't."
There are already several large players building a nationwide network, including AT-T, Sprint, and Verizon. Google's venture here is like many ventures an entrepreneurial experiment.
The mix of Internet providers in this community -- cable, phone, satellite, and now wireless -- means consumers or organizations are not without service options. Cost and access are important factors in determining the success of this experiment after the bright lights have dimmed.
The rapid growth of smart phones and data plans means that the cost for phone service may make connecting to Google's network unattractive, especially if it comes with a relatively-low $30-$50 per month charge. Who will want to pay this additional fee when they are already on a $80 monthly cell phone data plan?
Google's network, beyond the speed, will not transform Internet access unless it considers these qualities: free access at public locations open at all times. If this sounds outrageous consider the goals of two Missouri-based efforts to extend broadband to underserved areas (or here) and build public computer centers throughout the state.
Google built its' commercial search site on the pages and information from individuals, businesses, government agencies, and non-profit organizations. And Google, like many technology companies, has tried a host of ventures, some succeeding, others failing. However, by definition, innovation requires some failure amongst the success. Clay Shirky, a media scholar at New York University, underscores this point in Here Comes Everybody: The Power of Organizing Without Organizations when he suggests small groups should try out new media to benefit their organizations. Shirky also highlights the success/failure dynamic in reference to much larger models or organizations.
But most of these businesses try large-scale innovation projects for the purpose of making large profits -- who remembers Google Video after they bought YouTube or Google Wave, an email venture, or Google Buzz, their attempt to build another commercial social networking site competing with Facebook, MySpace, and others. Will the Google Fiber project in Kansas City, Kansas be a successful effort to tip the Internet service market to Google? And will the KCK project provide affordable or free options to close the digital divide for area residents?
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| photo from the Broadband Technology Opportunity Program site depicting a training class. |
A report on a April 4, 2011 radio report produced by KC Currents' Sylvia Maria Gross focused rare attention on services for low-income people in Kansas City, Kansas when mentioning the city's "high poverty rate. And like similar places around the country, [Mayor] Reardon says there's a digital divide between those who have access to the internet, and those who don't."
There are already several large players building a nationwide network, including AT-T, Sprint, and Verizon. Google's venture here is like many ventures an entrepreneurial experiment.
The mix of Internet providers in this community -- cable, phone, satellite, and now wireless -- means consumers or organizations are not without service options. Cost and access are important factors in determining the success of this experiment after the bright lights have dimmed.
The rapid growth of smart phones and data plans means that the cost for phone service may make connecting to Google's network unattractive, especially if it comes with a relatively-low $30-$50 per month charge. Who will want to pay this additional fee when they are already on a $80 monthly cell phone data plan?
Google's network, beyond the speed, will not transform Internet access unless it considers these qualities: free access at public locations open at all times. If this sounds outrageous consider the goals of two Missouri-based efforts to extend broadband to underserved areas (or here) and build public computer centers throughout the state.
Google built its' commercial search site on the pages and information from individuals, businesses, government agencies, and non-profit organizations. And Google, like many technology companies, has tried a host of ventures, some succeeding, others failing. However, by definition, innovation requires some failure amongst the success. Clay Shirky, a media scholar at New York University, underscores this point in Here Comes Everybody: The Power of Organizing Without Organizations when he suggests small groups should try out new media to benefit their organizations. Shirky also highlights the success/failure dynamic in reference to much larger models or organizations.
But most of these businesses try large-scale innovation projects for the purpose of making large profits -- who remembers Google Video after they bought YouTube or Google Wave, an email venture, or Google Buzz, their attempt to build another commercial social networking site competing with Facebook, MySpace, and others. Will the Google Fiber project in Kansas City, Kansas be a successful effort to tip the Internet service market to Google? And will the KCK project provide affordable or free options to close the digital divide for area residents?
Comments
Until Google googles the digital divide in Kansas City and connects with the technology volunteers that volunteer with the Dubois Learning Center and other worthwhile centers that have been working on the divide, until they connect with groups have robotics clubs, and that use video for community policing, then all the free websites and no fee services will go to those that made no commitment to the East side of KC.