We’re all getting used to our quarantine world — working from home, teaching our kids, wearing masks — a lot has changed in the last month, and it looks like it’s going to be awhile before we return to our regularly scheduled lives.

Finding ways to connect with our families, coworkers, classmates, and friends from a distance has become essential for most of us. Google Fiber is grateful to get to be a part of facilitating that connection for our customers, and we take that responsibility very seriously. We wanted to share how we’re dealing with the COVID-19 crisis as we continue to bring high-speed, high-bandwidth internet to our customers and to our communities to keep even more people connected.

Serving our customers

Internet connections have become the foundation on which we build all our other connections, from work and studies to information and entertainment. A reliable Internet connection with the speed and capacity to meet our ever-growing needs is no longer something that’s just nice to have — it’s a necessity.

That’s why Google Fiber is continuing construction, installations and network maintenance. While most of our team members are working from home, we've made numerous process and equipment changes to protect the health and safety of our field teams, whose jobs require them to be out in the community, connecting customers or maintaining our network.

These include, but are not limited to:

• Personal protective equipment for our field teams 
• Regular handwashing and sanitizing
• Following social distancing practices
• Restrictions on certain types of construction methods

In addition to these enhanced safety measures to protect our customers and crews, we’re coordinating with local governments and engaging communities within each city we serve to make sure we're charting the right local approach

For the most up-to-date information on our health and safety precautions, please visit our help center. And although our retail Fiber Spaces are closed, we are standing by 24/7 to help with anything you need to make your internet work for you, so please reach out to our team if you need anything.

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Serving our communities

Advancing digital inclusion is a central tenet of Google Fiber. In each of our communities, we partner with local organizations doing great work to help build digital literacy and increase internet access for residents.

Over the past two years, Google Fiber has supported nearly 1 million digital literacy training hours, helped provide more than 10,000 free or affordable devices to residents in need, connected 275,000 people to STEM programs, and empowered 7,000 aspiring entrepreneurs with training programs. In fact, in the last two years, our partner organizations were able to reach over 1.3 million unique participants across the country.

But there is much more work to be done. COVID-19 has sharpened that need, drawing clear lines between the digital haves and have-nots. Google Fiber and Webpass are investing in efforts across each of our cities to help more people connect during this difficult time, supporting organizations to help them meet the enormous technology demands for students and workers.

In several cities, including Austin, San Antonio, San Francisco, Irvine, Provo, Salt Lake City, and Chicago, we’ve partnered with the local public school district or their foundation to help students and their families as they adjust to schooling from home — targeting those families most impacted by the digital divide.  In other places, we’ve also funded the efforts of incredible organizations to better serve their communities’ increased needs and help provide devices and hot spots to their  clients:

• Connecting for Good in Kansas City
• PCs for People in Denver 
• Craft Lake City in Salt Lake City
• Nashville Public Library Foundation
• United Way of Utah County in Provo
• Boys and Girls Club of North Alabama in Huntsville
• Latinitas, E4 Youth, and AVANCE in Austin

We don’t know what’s going to happen next. Things are changing on a daily basis, and, like all of you, we’re working to meet the challenges and opportunities of this new normal. We do know that what you need and want from your internet — speed, reliability, great customer service — isn’t changing. We want to help you with that goal, both to help meet today’s challenges and to help take advantage of the opportunities we hope tomorrow presents.

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anchor: communities

category: company_news

There’s a lot going on in the world right now, and many more questions than answers. Things are uncertain, and moving so quickly that it’s hard to keep track.

At Google Fiber, we don’t have the answers to the big questions facing us. But we know that a lot of experts are working to find them, and we’re thankful to the scientists, doctors and nurses, public health experts, government officials and nonprofit organizations working day and night to address the global pandemic of COVID-19.

We also know this: in times like this, connections matter. Possibly — probably — more than at any other time. We believe internet service is always critical to people and communities. In times of crisis, internet service is an even more critical lifeline.

We also feel a deep responsibility to do whatever we can to help flatten the curve and slow the spread of COVID-19 in our Fiber communities. So, we’re closing our Fiber retail spaces and discontinuing outbound sales processes until this crisis abates. We’ll continue to install service for new customers as long as it’s safe and we’re able to do so, and we’ll do everything we can to repair and maintain our network for customers who are relying on it, and on us.

We’ve never had data caps or late fees, and we’ve committed to making sure anyone who is financially impacted by the ongoing coronavirus outbreak will be able to continue their Google Fiber service during this difficult time.

Other internet service providers have also taken steps to extend a hand to their customers at this time, and we thank them for those decisions. We’re all in this together.

All of us must stay connected to information about our countries and communities. To expert advice. To our employers and educational institutions. To telehealth networks to take care of ourselves and relieve the burden on physical clinics and hospitals. And to entertainment to make a tense time more bearable.

And, of course and as always, to each other.

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category: company_news

There’s a lot going on in the world right now, and many more questions than answers. Things are uncertain, and moving so quickly that it’s hard to keep track.

At Google Fiber, we don’t have the answers to the big questions facing us. But we know that a lot of experts are working to find them, and we’re thankful to the scientists, doctors and nurses, public health experts, government officials and nonprofit organizations working day and night to address the global pandemic of COVID-19.

We also know this: in times like this, connections matter. Possibly — probably — more than at any other time. We believe internet service is always critical to people and communities. In times of crisis, internet service is an even more critical lifeline.

We also feel a deep responsibility to do whatever we can to help flatten the curve and slow the spread of COVID-19 in our Fiber communities. So, we’re closing our Fiber retail spaces and discontinuing outbound sales processes until this crisis abates. We’ll continue to install service for new customers as long as it’s safe and we’re able to do so, and we’ll do everything we can to repair and maintain our network for customers who are relying on it, and on us.

We’ve never had data caps or late fees, and we’ve committed to making sure anyone who is financially impacted by the ongoing coronavirus outbreak will be able to continue their Google Fiber service during this difficult time.

Other internet service providers have also taken steps to extend a hand to their customers at this time, and we thank them for those decisions. We’re all in this together.

All of us must stay connected to information about our countries and communities. To expert advice. To our employers and educational institutions. To telehealth networks to take care of ourselves and relieve the burden on physical clinics and hospitals. And to entertainment to make a tense time more bearable.

And, of course and as always, to each other.

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category: company_news

It’s Women’s History Month and we wanted to take a moment to highlight some of the incredible work that women are doing in the tech and gaming industry. From creating innovative new video games to teaching the next generation of coders, women are doing incredible things in these traditionally male-dominated fields.

The three women below inspire us every day with the work they are doing in our Google Fiber cities. They remind us why we do what we do — connect people to the things that matter to them. Find out what drives them in their own words (and if you want to learn even more about these superstars, follow us on Twitter and Facebook).

Elizabeth Schulte
Salt Lake City, Utah

Elizabeth is an interactive designer and digital media mentor at Spy Hop Productions. She teaches teens how to create video games.

Having women on a game creation team adds a more robust perspective. If every member of the team looks the same and acts the same, you’re going to get the same old answers. But by diversifying teams, we can get fresh perspectives to the questions asked and maybe even get new solutions to old problems. Females are half the population; we should represent a similar number in games creation.

To help support their girls’ interests in STEM, I’d give parents this advice: See teens where they are. Give them the tools to be successful. Celebrate the positive steps that they make. Let them fail in a safe environment; let them try to fix problems on their own first. Nudge them toward the solution; everything is an opportunity to learn.


Daisy Magnus-Aryitey
Durham, North Carolina

Daisy is a software engineer and the Director of Programs at Code the Dream. She wrote her very first line of code as a student with the organization. Now, she’s working to show other women that they belong in tech, too.

I don’t think being a woman necessarily made it more difficult to break into the field, but it does make it hard to advance in the field — to move into a leadership role. As a woman, and especially as a woman of color, you definitely have to be a vocal advocate for yourself.

I think the best way to show girls that they belong in STEM fields is to show them women who are in tech. It’s not enough to simply say that this is a field for everyone, and it’s not enough to celebrate a small number of women in tech that are based in New York City or the Bay Area. We need girls to see women in their own cities and communities who are working as software engineers.


Athena
Austin, Texas

Athena is a live streamer — meaning she plays video games with people watching her online, specifically on Twitch, for a living. She started gaming at 7 years old, and had no idea that it would turn into her career.

As a game-streaming woman, I did encounter a number of challenges early on. Initially, the major criticism was that my success was not attributed to hard work and providing entertaining content, but solely due to my gender. Over time, that criticism faded somewhat as my Rocket League community grew.

The impact I am able to have on the lives of the people in my community is my favorite part of what I do. If I can make one person smile or laugh or forget a tough time they are going through, even if only for a couple minutes, it’s all worth it.

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author: Brien Bell

title: Head of Webpass

category: company_news

We hope you love the fourth installment in our series Watch This Way, aimed at making watching TV over the Internet easier. If you missed the earlier editions, you can find them here.

There are a lot of fish in the sea when it comes to watching TV over your Internet (“fish” meaning “streaming services,” in this case). But sometimes, it can feel like there’s something out there for everybody except for you. No matter how eclectic your tastes are, there is an option out there that will make your heart leap. (Plus, having gigabit Internet makes it super easy to take advantage of watching TV over the Internet.) Our handy matchmaking guide below will help you find your perfect match so that you can snuggle in and watch your version of romantic TV and movies (whether that’s a Hallmark movie or classic horror).

If you are a(n). . .

? Anglophile who’s a diehard sports fan, meet your matches: fuboTV, ESPN+, BritBox.fuboTV and ESPN+ both let you watch live sports all day, every day. With ESPN+, you can also watch game replays and highlights. Watch your favorite British TV shows whenever you want over BritBox — accents and dry humor included. 

? Prime-time fan who live tweets reality shows, meet your matches: YouTube TV, Hulu+ Live TV, Philo, SlingTV.With these you can watch live TV — that includes sports, local news, prime time shows, and yes … reality TV, all in real time. 

? Cricket fan with a passion for horror and old cartoons, meet your matches: WillowTV (for cricket), Shudder (for horror), Boomerang (for old cartoons).See? There really is something out there for everyone. Sometimes, even multiple somethings.

? Pop culture-loving anime-enthusiast, meet your matches: Netflix, Crunchyroll.Turns out, you can’t have FOMO when you can watch the hottest new shows on demand with Netflix. And with Crunchyroll, you can watch anime all day, even the latest episode of your favorite series just one hour after it airs in Japan. どういたしまして (Dōitashimashite - you’re welcome).

? Wrestling superfan who can quote Disney movies, meet the whole package: WWE TV, Disney+.Wrestling in the day, Disney movies at night. Or vice versa.

? For the Bollywood aficionado: HotStar.Not only can you catch your favorite Indian movies, but you can also start watching HotStar’s original content, from talk shows to comedies.

? Top-notch cinematography and exclusive content lovers, meet your matches: Starz, Showtime, and HBO Now You won’t just watch any series — they have to be award-winning (and nominated) with serious budgets behind them. (CGI dragons, anyone?) These will keep you up on all the exquisite, exclusive content you know and love to talk about.

? Free spirit who also lives for getting stuff for free, meet your matches: Pluto TV, Stirr, tubi, Shout Factory TV.You read that correctly: Free. Watch live TV with PlutoTV and watch TV shows and movies on demand with tubi, all without paying a dime … and watch mindbenders from the ’50s, cult films from the ’80s, and other eclectic works of art with Shout Factory TV (which is also free).

If you’ve read through this entire list and didn’t see something to make you swipe right, fear not — there’s not only still hope, there’s still a lot of hope. There are many other amazing, niche streaming platforms out there, waiting to find their beloved viewers … but, unlike your newfound love, we had to end this blog somewhere.

*All services listed are subject to their own prices, terms, and conditions. Google Fiber is not responsible for these offerings and does not control any aspect of the referenced services.

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category: product_news

In August, we launched Google Fiber Webpass in Austin, marking the first time we’ve offered both Google Fiber and Google Fiber Webpass in the same city. Today, we’re happy to let you know that Google Fiber Webpass has joined yet another Fiber city -- Nashville, Tennessee.

Nashville’s growth has been explosive over the past decade. In fact, the residential population downtown has grown by 90% since 2012, with 12,000-plus new downtown residents. That number is expected to grow to over 20,000 in the next three years, and that growth is mirrored across the city, with new condos and apartments popping up in many neighborhoods.

Google Fiber Webpass is designed to meet that need, using a fixed point-to-point wireless technology to provide internet speeds up to 1 Gig without the need for significant construction work, which will allow us to deliver speedy Internet to condos and apartment residents faster than we ever could before. Eligible residents can sign up today on the Google Fiber website .We’re expanding to new buildings quickly. To help us bring Google Fiber Webpass gig service to your apartment or condo building, check out webpass.net/nashville.

We know that Google Fiber Webpass and Nashville are a perfect match. We look forward to helping you put your Gig to good use, whether that's listening to the latest music, streaming the Titans or Predators game, playing your own games, or getting to work in your own home.

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Posted by Brien Bell, Head of Webpass

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author: Brien Bell

title: Head of Webpass

category: city_news

videourl: https://storage.googleapis.com/fiber/blog/webpass-nashville.mp4

Our series, Watch This Way, aimed at making watching TV over the Internet easier, continues with the hope of getting you red carpet ready. Missed the rest/others? Find them here.

You’ve seen the list of nominees, questioned who got snubbed, and tweeted your feelings about it more than once. But are you really ready for all the awards shows? Have the perfect outfit, seen all the movies, and know just how you plan to tune in? The truth is that you don’t need much more than the Internet to prepare and watch these big nights. Here’s how:

Getting ready: Choose your Internet TV service.

Yes, you can watch major awards shows and events without cable. Many local broadcast stations have web- or app-based ways to watch, or you can use a cable alternative like YouTube TV or fuboTV. Double check that your service of choice features the programming you’re looking for.

To watch TV over the Internet, you’ll need a smart TV or a streaming device, such as a Roku Player, Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, XBox One, Android TV, or Apple TV. Plus, when you watch over gigabit Internet, you can say goodbye to buffering — no missing out on the most important moments.

Getting ready: Do your research and get familiar with the nominees.

Not to say that we don’t miss the days of video stores, but it’s pretty helpful to be able to watch 10 movies in a row without ever leaving your couch. Check out Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and Disney+ to get started on the films and TV you may have missed. Then you’ll be armed with all the information you need to make predictions.

During the show: Share your thoughts in real time!

Arguably one of the best parts of watching awards shows in real-time is live tweeting your opinions, staying caught up with fashion highlights and lowlights, and seeing (or making) memes before they go viral.

Can’t stay up that late to catch it all? Don’t worry! You can watch when you’re ready. Many cable alternatives come with plenty of cloud DVR storage, or you watch on-demand the next day. (You just might want to rethink your social media strategy.)

So grab some popcorn, suit up in that red carpet-worthy outfit, and get ready to share your thoughts on your preferred social platform. It’s showtime.

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category: product_news

TV. We all watch it; we all love it. That will never change.

But what will change — what has changed — is how we watch it. You no longer need pricey bundles that force you into paying for channels you’ll never watch, taking away your choice and control. And you especially don't need to be locked into one way to get TV in the face of continued price increases or contract battles when all you want to do is watch TV.

Nope, you really only need one thing: fast, fair, reliable Internet.

As we return our focus to where we started — as a gigabit Internet company — we’re also ready to challenge the status quo, to finally come right out and say it: customers today just don’t need traditional TV.

The best TV is already online. And we want to help you watch it, in the ways that work best for your budget and your own viewing preferences. You want live TV? Great. Sports? Go get it. On-demand shows? Absolutely. It’s all online, just waiting for you.

So, as of today, Google Fiber will no longer offer a linear TV product to new customers. For our current TV customers, we know you have come to rely on Google Fiber TV and we will continue to provide you with traditional TV service. And we'll be happy to help everyone explore other options to get their favorite programming the way TV is watched now — over the Internet, with the virtually unlimited choice and control online viewing provides.

In fact, we’ve added a second streaming service to our line-up: starting today, customers can sign up for fuboTV at the same time they sign up for their Google Fiber service. This is particularly exciting for sports fans — fuboTV offers more than 35,000 live sporting events each year. And you can also watch popular TV shows, movies and news on fuboTV — their base package alone has more than 100 live channels and more than 30,000 TV episodes and movies on demand every month. You also get cloud DVR and the ability to stream simultaneously on multiple screens.

Our partnership with fuboTV is in addition to one with YouTube TV, announced in December. Now, new Fiber customers have at least two options to choose how they want to get the live and on-demand programming they know and love. Of course, customers can always sign up for any of the many other streaming services on their own — we’ll provide the Internet!

When you have a smooth, steady connection of a gig (or more!), getting all your TV online — live, show by show, your DVR — is possible and easy. Without long loading screens and bulky cable boxes; without competing for bandwidth from other devices or family members. And, especially, without worrying about hitting a data cap.

We didn’t make this change happen; the industry didn’t make this change happen. You did. You’ve been telling us for a long time that you wanted more choice and more control. You wanted no contracts and more flexibility. You made your voice heard with where and how you spend your money, and Google Fiber is listening.

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category: product_news

This is the second installment in our series Watch This Way, aimed at making watching TV over the Internet easier. If you missed the first one, you can find it here.


The beers are cold, the wings are hot, the guac is fresh — there’s just one thing left to figure out: How are you going to watch that college basketball game, big football spectacular or tennis match Down Under this weekend on the big, new TV you picked up over the holidays?

First, you don’t need cable. (What? Yes. Really.) In fact, if you’re a cord-cutter — or you have gigabit Internet and prefer a superior watching experience — you can watch most games, matches, and championships in real time over the Internet. Consider this your three-step plan to becoming the ultimate watch party host.

• Choose your cable substitute. Some channels will let you watch for free over the web or their apps, and there are also channels that have their own apps, like ESPN+. Most cable alternatives — like YouTubeTV, fuboTV, AT&T Now, Sling TV, or Hulu+Live TV — carry local broadcast affiliates, which means you’ll be able to watch games and matches there, too. (Be sure to check listings in advance, so you’re not disappointed.) Got a digital antenna? You can also use that to watch sports broadcast over-the-air for free.

• Pick your device. You can watch on your computer, tablet, or phone, but assuming you’re making a party out of it, you’ll want to connect your TV to the Internet. You can do so by using a streaming device such as a Roku Player, Google Chromecast, Fire TV, XBox One, Android TV, or Apple TV (Gen 4 or above). And with many smart TVs, you can watch directly by using the app of your choice. 

• Decide if you’ll be watching in 4K Ultra HD. Sports are often the first events to take advantage of the biggest, brightest resolution — and yes, that includes live broadcasts, too. When you watch in 4K UHD, you get four times the pixels than you’d get with standard HD, which makes it four times clearer.) You just need a 4K TV to take advantage of that superior viewing experience. 


Watching in 4K requires more bandwidth than watching in standard definition (SD) or HD,  so make sure that your Internet’s high speed and comes with unlimited data. That way, you don’t have to worry about any limitations or frustrations (other than your team making you sweat the outcome!). With gigabit Internet, you should be good to go.

Now you’re set to be the ultimate watch party host, no matter the sport … provided your food game is as strong as your TV game. Go [insert your team here]!
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author: Google Fiber Marketing Team

title:

category: product_news