Google has spurned Evanston — and nearly 1,100 other towns that applied — and has chosen Kansas City, Kan., for its first test of a gigabit fiber optic network.
Announcement came on the official Google blog today.
Evanstonians made a big push for the city’s application a year ago. But at least we didn’t go as far as Topeka, Kan., which renamed itself Google as part of its campaign for the new service.
Consolation prizes possible: Google says it also will “be looking closely at ways to bring ultra high-speed Internet to other cities across the country.”
Update 3:26 p.m.: Evanston City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz says he’s not “crushed” by losing out in the competition — just glad he’s not city manager in Topeka.