Google Fiber is now available in Charlotte. Here are the details on pricing and how it will roll out

This has been in the works for about two years. City leaders have touted it as a key component of recruiting entrepreneurs to Charlotte and helping bridge the digital divide.

It’s also adding another cable/internet/TV competitor in the market.

Highland Creek is the first neighborhood to have access.

People in the neighborhood got an email today letting them know they’re eligible for service. If you’re in an apartment that’s eligible for service, you can get plugged in in the next 2-3 days (after they send you the box pictured below).

Only two apartments are up and running today — Mill Pond Apartments and Reserve at Stone Hollow in Highland Creek. Another 120 or so will be up in the coming months. Search here.

If you’re in a single-family home, you’ll have to have a technician come out and install the hardware up to your house. That could take a week or so.

Highland Creek has until September 1 to sign up.

Prosperity Village is next — then they’ll move down into central Charlotte

You can see a rough timeline here.

Here’s the pricing for consumers.

There are also small business plans from $70 to $250 per month. Here are the full details on plans.

Google Fiber is also opening its building in First Ward to the public.

Starting Wednesday, people can walk in for a demonstration from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

The community can also reserve their space for events — and it’s quite beautiful.

Yes, this used to be Dixie’s Tavern, if you can believe that.

Slow up, what is gigabit internet?

Here’s an explainer. Basically, you can download and upload things very, very fast — 100 times faster than you’re used to. A high-def movie on Netflix will load in 7 seconds, instead of two minutes or so on a normal connection.

AT&T has also been rolling out gigabit service — called Gigapower — in Charlotte over the past year. It’s available at about 60 apartment communities and certain homes.

Google will also be doing a lot of community work.

To help bridge the digital divide, Google Fiber will offer a $15/month broadband plan in select areas, Google Fiber city manager Mary Ellen Player said.

Affordable and public housing will have access to free internet, and Google will also be extending free service to some libraries and community centers.

The Agenda will keep covering Google Fiber as it rolls out.