MCCASKILL STATEMENT ON HIGH-SPEED BROADBAND INTERNET COMING TO KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI GOOGLE ANNOUNCES HIGH-SPEED INTERNET SERVICE EXPANSION IN KANSAS CITY, MO AREA.

WASHINGTON -- The following information was released by Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill:

Following a March 2011 announcement that Kansas City, KS had been selected out of nearly 1000 cities to receive ultra high-speed internet access, Google announced today that they are expanding the proposed network to include Kansas City, Missouri as well. U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill made the following statement on today's announcement:

"High-speed broadband internet access will help boost economic development and help cement the Kansas City area as a national center of technology, education, and growth. Improving access to broadband internet is a proven economic driver. Internet speeds 100 times faster than what most people have will mean new business opportunities, healthcare improvements, and progress in our schools."

Nearly 1,100 cities applied for Google's experimental fiber project to provide their community with Internet access more than 100 times faster than what most Americans have today. In March of 2011, Google announced they had selected Kansas City, KS as the recipient and today announced they are expanding the planned network to Kansas City, Missouri. Google expects the network to be operational in 2012.

McCaskill has been a strong supporter of expanding access to broadband internet across the state. Last June, she hosted a forum with the Federal Communications Commission's Chairman Julius Genachowski and key local leaders from across Missouri to discuss the federal government's broadband initiatives. Studies show that communities in which broadband is widely available experience greater growth in employment, greater increases in the overall number of businesses, and a greater number of businesses in the information technology sectors.