MARC: Mid-America Regional Council

 

 

The Mayors Bistate Innovations Team held its final meeting on June 28, 2012. With support from MARC and the two Kansas Citys, MBIT leaders have formed a new digital leadership network called KC Digital Drive to guide implementation of the playbook.

For more information, contact Aaron Deacon.

KC Digital Drive Resources»

MBIT Information

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Mayors’ Bistate Innovations Team

In 2011, Google chose the cities of Kansas City, Mo., and Kansas City, Kan., as the testing ground for its Ultra High-Speed Fiber (“Google Fiber”) project. Google Fiber Networks will deliver Internet speeds more than 100 times faster than what most Americans have access to today, more than 1 gigabit per second, fiber-to-the-home connections. Google plans to offer service at a competitive price to at least 50,000 and potentially up to 500,000 people in the two cities.

Kansas City, Mo., Mayor Sylvester James and Unified Government Mayor/CEO Joe Reardon appointed a Bistate Innovations Team of 12 individuals led by Mike Burke and Dr. Ray Daniels. The goal for the team was to be imaginative, innovative and inspired in recommending ways Google Fiber can benefit the KC metro area and its citizens. The group explored ways the community can use Google Fiber to improve public services; create community; assist and advance education; spark economic development; create jobs; or otherwise improve the quality of life in the KC metro area.

The Innovations Team was charged with creating a playbook that identifies creative uses of the Google infrastructure and how best to market the KC metro’s high-speed fiber connectivity in recruiting business, industry and institutional interests to the area.

The Innovations Team recognized early on that high-speed fiber cannot reach its full potential if large segments of our community are excluded from its benefits. Digital inclusion is a key aspect of many of the issues outlined in the playbook. In late June, Google released a report on Kansas City's digital divide. This study will inform future planning as a Digital Leadership Network is formed to implement the playbook.

For the latest information about digital innovation in Kansas City, follow the blog posts at KC Digital Drive and the Google Fiber blog.

 

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