The competition to determine which communities in Kansas City will qualify to receive Google Fiber, the nation's fastest internet service, has stoked fears of increasing the city's historic patterns of segregation, reports John Eligon.
When Google announced that it would pilot the nation's fastest internet service in Kansas City, many in the city's poorest communities saw hope in increased opportunities for education and economic development. But when the company unveiled how the program would roll out, with "only those areas where enough residents preregistered and paid a $10
deposit would get the service, Google Fiber," those hopes were dashed, and replaced with fears that the city's racial and economic segregation would be exacerbated, rather than healed.
"While nearly all of the
affluent, mostly white neighborhoods here quickly got enough
registrants," reports Eligon, "a broad swath of black communities lagged." According to Eligon, Google and local organizations have been active in trying to register disadvantaged neighborhoods. But, "As of Sunday evening, only about 32 percent of people in the
neighborhoods that qualified for Google Fiber were black, while just
over 54 percent were white, according to [Andrew Beveridge, a sociology professor at Queens College in New York City]."
"In some neighborhoods, residents feared that if the service were
unavailable in their communities, property values would drop and their
schools and hospitals may fall further behind those in affluent areas.
Businesses that rely on technology might shun their communities, they
said, denying them jobs and economic development opportunities."
FULL STORY: In One City, Signing Up for Internet Becomes a Civic Cause
Smart Cities, at What Cost?
Kansas City, Missouri, wants to be a smart cities leader, but it also needs to address concerns about data collection and privacy, say critics.
Highly Anticipated Google Fiber Plan for Kansas City Unveiled
Calling it the "next phase of the Internet", Google announced the details of the roll out of its ultrahigh-speed Internet network this week, which will offer speeds 100 times faster than typical broadband connections to residents of Kansas City.
A Brief History of Kansas City’s Microtransit
The city’s costly experiment with on-demand transit is yielding to more strategic investment.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.
Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.
MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.
Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie