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Google's superfast internet service might come to Los Angeles and Chicago

Google announced Tuesday that it will consider expanding its superfast fiber internet service, a.k.a. Google Fiber, to two of the biggest US cities: Los Angeles, and Chicago.

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As it does whenever it’s considering a new city for Google Fiber, the company is working closely with city leaders to collect more information about each area, which will help Google lay the groundwork for construction since every city has different infrastructure.

Google Fiber
Google fiber trucks George Frey/Reuters

Google says fiber internet could help the “fast growing startup scene” in Chicago and help indie artists in Los Angeles create their next projects. Los Angeles has a very good chance at attracting Google Fiber, considering the city is offering up to $1 billion in incentives in order to get gigabit internet access, including “expedited permitting, discounted real estate to house networking hardware and a guarantee to become a customer,”according to LA Times.

Eric Garcetti, the mayor of Los Angeles,released a statement on Tuesday to champion Google’s Fiber initiative potentially coming to his city.

“Expanding, improving and strengthening internet access throughout Los Angeles is vital to further accelerating L.A.’s economic growth — and affordable service is essential to erasing a digital divide that leaves too many people without the tools to maximize potential the 21st century,” he said.

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For those cities and residents where Google Fiber is available, the super fast internet service charges a one-time $300 construction fee for installation, plus $70 a month for the service. For $130 a month, you can also access more than 150 TV channels.

Google Fiber is currently in three cities, with more to come. It’s already in Kansas City, Missouri; Provo, Utah; and Austin, Texas. Google has also confirmed it’s about to roll out in six other locations: Salt Lake City; Atlanta; San Antonio; Nashville; Charlotte; and Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina.

Two months ago, Google invited three other cities to explore the potential of Google Fiber, including Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Jacksonville, Florida; and Tampa, Florida. A month prior to that, it invited three other cities: Louisville, Kentucky; Irvine, California; and San Diego, California.

On February 28, Axel Springer, Business Insider's parent company, joined 31 other media groups and filed a $2.3 billion suit against Google in Dutch court, alleging losses suffered due to the company's advertising practices.

Google Internet Los Angeles
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