Even residents who don't want to pay for the fast service will benefit from the project: For a one-time $300 construction fee, which can be paid in installments, they will be able to get free broadband at speeds comparable to DSL (digital subscriber line) service -- 5Mbps downstream and 1Mbps upstream. But neighborhoods where not enough residents pre-register for Google Fiber won't get it.

Google disclosed the details of Google Fiber on Thursday on its and on an about the project. The rollout will cover qualifying areas of Kansas City, Missouri, and neighboring Kansas City, Kansas, which won out over more than 1,000 cities that applied for the service in 2010.

Google announced in February 2010 that it planned to build fiber networks in "a small number of trial locations" in the U.S., in which it would offer service at competitive prices to between 50,000 and 500,000 people. The company described its project as a test bed to explore new applications, fiber deployment techniques and operation of a network that's open to other service providers. Google hasn't named other fiber cities yet but operates one network near Stanford University.

The company has divided the cities into "fiberhoods" and asked residents to pre-register for service and tell their neighbors to join them. Each "fiberhood" will have a goal of pre-registrations to meet by Sept. 9, based on the population density of the area. The fiberhoods that get the most pre-registrations will get service first, and should see it soon after the registration period. Google said. Areas where not enough residents pre-register won't qualify for the rollout.

Registration requires giving basic information such as name and address and paying a $10 deposit. The $300 construction fee for equipping a home for service will be waived for those who sign up for the paid services.