• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
Tech100 Best Companies to Work For

Google Says No More Free Internet for You, Kansas City

By
Hilary Brueck
Hilary Brueck
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Hilary Brueck
Hilary Brueck
Down Arrow Button Icon
April 11, 2016, 12:04 PM ET
Google Begins Installing Ultrafast Broadband Network
Boxes of equipment needed to install Google Fiber broadband network sit on a couch at the home of customer Becki Sherwood in Kansas City, Kansas, U.S., on Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2012. Google Inc. will move a step closer to offering the fastest citywide Internet service in the U.S. tomorrow when it picks the first neighborhoods in Kansas City to get hooked into a new fiber-optic network. Photographer: Julie Denesha/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesPhotograph by Bloomberg via Getty Images

When Google Fiber, the ultra-fast Internet service from Google parent company Alphabet launched in Kansas City back in 2012, residents had a few pricing options.

They could pay $70 a month for a one-gigabit Internet connection, $130 for Internet and TV, or, they could opt to go for a half-speed connection and forego their monthly Internet service fee completely. It was basically free monthly Internet (after a $300 installation fee.)

Now, Google’s telling the freeloaders it’s time to pay up.

In a shift, Google (GOOG) is starting to charge $50 for its most basic Fiber offering in Kansas City. About 100 low-income households who recently received free Google Fiber access in the city won’t be affected by the price change, though.

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter.

Fiber service is roughly 2-5 times faster than a typical home broadband connection. And in the cities where it’s available, the high-speed offering has ignited some serious competition from old-school Internet providers. In Kansas City, Fiber sparked both AT&T and Time Warner to increase their own Internet speeds and drop some of their prices to match Fiber’s.

Since the Kansas City launch, Google Fiber has also expanded to cover three other cities around the country: Atlanta, Austin, and Provo, Utah (in Austin and Provo the free basic Internet service option is still available after customers pay the installation fee). And Fiber has plans to expand into seven more cities around the country, including San Francisco.

Google Fiber Takes On AT&T, Time Warner:

Current Fiber freeloaders in Kansas City can keep their free monthly Internet until their seven-year agreements are up, a Google spokesperson says. After that, they’ll have to start shelling out again if they want to keep on googling.

 

Correction (Apr. 11 1:48 pm E.T.): An earlier version of this story cited Re/code reporting the free Fiber Internet service will be unavailable in Kansas City starting May 19. The free service will continue for current subscribers until the end of their seven-year contracts.

About the Author
By Hilary Brueck
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Tech

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Success
  • Tech
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Environment
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Health
  • Retail
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Newsletters
  • Magazine
  • Features
  • Commentary
  • Mpw
  • CEO Initiative
  • Conferences
  • Personal Finance
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Tech

President Donald Trump pictured in front of a waving American flag.
EconomyU.S. economy
Trump’s immigration curbs will help take 2.4 million people out of the workforce, but he’s betting AI can pick up the slack
By Tristan BoveFebruary 11, 2026
59 minutes ago
Suburban homes
EconomyLabor
The 45-year decline of the middle class costs you $12,000 a year
By Jake AngeloFebruary 11, 2026
3 hours ago
gunman
LawGoogle
Google’s breakthrough in the Nancy Guthrie case is raising uncomfortable questions about how much it’s watching you
By Ashley LutzFebruary 11, 2026
6 hours ago
Demis Hassabis
AIGoogle
Google’s Nobel-winning AI leader sees a ‘renaissance’ ahead—after a 10- or 15-year shakeout
By Nick LichtenbergFebruary 11, 2026
6 hours ago
NewslettersCIO Intelligence
Steelcase’s CTO says the AI boom will reshape office design
By John KellFebruary 11, 2026
6 hours ago
Elon Musk in front of the xAI logo.
AIElon Musk
X-odus: Half of xAI’s founding team has left Elon Musk’s AI company, potentially complicating his plans for a blockbuster SpaceX IPO
By Beatrice NolanFebruary 11, 2026
7 hours ago

Most Popular

placeholder alt text
Economy
America borrowed $43.5 billion a week in the first four months of the fiscal year, with debt interest on track to be over $1 trillion for 2026
By Eleanor PringleFebruary 10, 2026
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Economy
It turns out that Joe Biden really did crush Americans' dreams for the future. Just look at how the vibe changed 5 years ago
By Jake AngeloFebruary 10, 2026
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
C-Suite
Meet Jody Allen, the billionaire owner of the Seattle Seahawks, who plans to sell the team and donate the proceeds to charity
By Jake AngeloFebruary 9, 2026
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
AI
As billionaires bail, Mark Zuckerberg doubles down on California with $50 million donation
By Sydney LakeFebruary 9, 2026
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Economy
China might be beginning to back away from U.S. debt as investors get nervous about overexposure to American assets
By Eleanor PringleFebruary 9, 2026
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Commentary
Something big is happening in AI — and most people will be blindsided
By Matt ShumerFebruary 11, 2026
8 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.