Google Fiber announced Wednesday that it will provide free Internet at gigabit-speeds to families in Nashville’s public housing complexes.

The magnitude of that announcement is smaller than it may seem. The telecom company already
said last summer that it would provide free Internet service through the
ConnectHome initiative, a federal program to help low-income families get online. This announcement simply clarified the speed that it will provide.  

“The gigabit speed we think is the future of the Internet,” said Dennis Kish, Google Fiber’s vice president. “We don’t think that there’s any reason, if we’re providing a connection to these residents, that it shouldn’t be the fastest possible.”

It’s still unclear exactly how many households will have access to free Internet. According to previous estimates from federal and Metro agencies, anywhere from a quarter to half of public housing units in Nashville will be part of the ConnectHome pilot.

Meanwhile, Comcast announced Tuesday that it’s rolling out a new gigabit-speed Internet service to customers in Nashville and Atlanta early this year. The company already offers an even faster Internet option in Nashville — at 2 gigabits — but that service requires installing new fiber-optic cable and comes with a hefty startup fee. The 1-gigabit Internet would only require installing a new modem. 

Comcast has not yet announced the monthly cost, but a spokeswoman says it will be less than the 2-gigabit service, which is currently $159.