Google Fiber approved for expansion

Lucky residents of Olathe in Kansas will have the opportunity to sign up for Google's coveted Fiber Internet service.

With up to one gigabit in upload and download speed, Google touts the service as a connection speed "up to a hundred times faster" than today's broadband. On Tuesday, the tech giant announced that residents of Olathe, Kansas will be joining those in Kansas City eligible for Google Fiber, minutes after the local council approved the plans.

Dubbed the "Silicon Prairie" those in Olathe will gain access to the Internet service in the future, although the firm says that "a lot of planning and engineering work" has to be completed first.

Google says that by expanding into Olathe, widespread Internet access will help "to create jobs and grow local businesses," and as one of cities in Kansas which is most quickly growing, it may help attract more businesses and residents. Although no service or engineering timeline is yet in place, the tech giant plans to publish these details once construction is underway.

Google hopes to bring its Fiber service to Westwood, Westwood Hills and Mission Woods, Kan. in the near future.

For those of us outside of Kansas, there may still be hope. In January, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) called upon the U.S. government and Internet service providers to ramp up efforts to provide gigabit Ethernet speeds in at least one community in each state by 2015. The FCC believes that ultra-fast broadband could help breed innovation and boost local economies.