What's next for Google Fiber?

Google instantly dominated all other ISPs in speed after releasing their consistently fast service with a relatively small price tag... but what does the future hold for Google Fiber?

The United States is sinking into a quagmire of perpetually slow internet service, so much more visible when compared against the connection speeds of European and Asian ISPs. Thanks to a stagnant pool of national U.S. Internet providers, those that do exist have become complacent, as there are few other providers for customers to leave to (and certainly none that would be much better).

Google, the self-purported white knight of the technology world, swooped in recently to announce that they would be adding "Internet service provider" to their ever-increasing resume. The new service, going by the name of Google Fiber, would premiere in Kansas City only, so as to test the waters of a possible market.

Fiber offers three plans: the $120/mo. Gigabit + TV; $70/mo. Gigabit Internet; and the Free Internet for a one-time $300 activation fee (or $25/mo. for 12 months).

The price is excellent for buyers. Being very competitive, the prices are already something for the other ISPs to look out for. It only gets worse for the likes of Verizon and AT&T, though, as Netflix reported that on average, users of Fiber have considerably faster speeds than any other ISP listed, surpassing even the heavyweight champion of US providers: Verizon FiOs. Now there's blood in the water.

Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt said on stage at The New York Times' Dealbook conference about a week ago that Google Fiber "isn't just an experiment, it's a real business and we're trying to decide where to expand next." This spells bad news for the fat-cat ISPs who have become too comfortable in their Internet thrones.

Anonymous vs. Westboro Baptist Church

Hacktivists become America's digital Robin Hood as they take up arms against WBC

"Identify. Resist. Progress. Evolve." 
   ~Purgingomen, on Anonymous

From behind the guise of Guy Fawkes, the hackers strike. Incur the wrath of Anonymous, and you can guarantee some sort of retribution. When Anon makes his move, he makes it swiftly, and he makes it big.

And now they've got the Westboro Baptist Church in their cross-hairs.


Who? The despicable Westboro Baptist Church, a religious hate group with a penchant for picketing the funerals of war veterans who were killed in battle. The Westboro Baptist Church is the First Amendment gone totally awry.

"God Hates Fags" reads many of the WBC signs, which conveys their belief that because of our "acceptance" of homosexuality in the U.S., we are being punished by God. The dead soldiers, they say, are evidence.

Why? For calling on members to picket at Sandy Hook Elementary School, in light of the recent slaying of 20 children (and several educators) by a deranged gunman. The Twitter post, by @DearShirley, read "Westboro will picket Sandy Hook Elementary School to sing praise to God for the glory of his work in executing his judgment." Talk about an all-around bad idea.

What? Anonymous, a loose collective of hackers with an anti-censorship agenda, had enough of the WBC and hacked the personal files of the "church's" key members. It has already dumped the info on pastebin, which included phone numbers, addresses, and more for the public to see.