Mayor Reardon concerned not everyone can afford Google project

As Google engineers its ultra-high-speed Internet projects in the Kansas Cities, KCK Mayor Joe Reardon expressed concerns that not everyone in his city will be able to take advantage of the service when it goes live in 2012. The conduit system that will connect directly to homes and businesses will thrive on participation and use, raising red flags for residents who may not be able to afford Google’s service, even if prices are as competitive as expected, said Mayor Reardon, officially mayor/CEO of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas. Although Google’s Internet will cover the entire city and “open up access,” Mayor Reardon said he’s still worried about “removing barriers to access” and cited a recent dialogue with the state of Kansas. The Kansas Department of Commerce has its own broadband initiative aiming federal dollars at rural parts of the Sunflower State. Mayor Reardon said he is looking to persuade state officials to assist residents in economically distressed parts of the city with affordability. “The marketplace does not deploy as quickly as a city like mine would want,” Mayor Reardon said, pointing specifically at the more impoverished sections of the city, where current Internet access and use is limited.

A cheerleader for Google, Mayor Reardon plugged the economic development benefits that Google’s infrastructure would bring to the region. Reardon called on leaders in Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri to heavily market Google as a signature piece for the region, referring to a discussion with KCMO Mayor Sly James about unifying the cities’ efforts.