The reach of Google's ultrafast Internet service, Google Fiber, has been something like a critically acclaimed independent movie with a limited geographic release: highly praised, yet highly limited to the general public to experience.

This week, the Internet giant announced that Google Fiber's tentacles would expand to four more markets, with more expected to come in the near future.

Currently, with Google Fiber available in the Kansas City, Missouri, metropolitan area; Austin, Texas; and Provo, Utah, merely an estimated 3 million people live in areas that Google Fiber serves — less than 1 percent of the U.S. population. That number increases to about 12 million with the expansions announced Jan. 27 into the Atlanta and Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, areas, plus the cities of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Nashville, Tennessee.

But Google Fiber's potential to change the way the Internet is delivered to consumers isn't found in its current geographic footprint.

Google Fiber advertises speeds of up to a whopping 1 gigabit per second on downloads. That speed makes it approximately 30 times faster than the average broadband speed in the U.S. Even when accounting for Google Fiber's basic Internet tier, which gives qualifying customers free monthly Internet of 5 megabits per second (Mbps) after a construction cost, the entire ISP's average speed is still about seven times quicker than the average broadband connection.

Furthermore, Fiber's value of $70 for gigabit Internet represents a tremendous value compared to other ISPs. Verizon FiOS' highest-end Internet plan offers 500 Mbps for $284.99 per month, and Comcast's Xfinity Internet service is at 150 Mbps for $89.99. Time Warner's best package is 100 Mbps at $64.95 a month, and AT&T maxes out at merely 45 Mbps for $64.95 a month.

This expansion by Google comes in a current climate where many of the nation's largest telecommunications companies and their largest lobbying organizations are outspoken against likely upcoming Federal Communications Commission (FCC) net neutrality regulations under Title II of the Telecommunications Act. They say it will cause higher prices for consumers and stifle innovation, yet Google Fiber is a counterpoint to those arguments that indicates innovation is extremely possible at a fairly modest price point.

In effect, battles between Google — which has been a longtime supporter of net neutrality and is open to Title II regulation — and the largest ISPs have already begun.

Google would welcome Title II regulation, as it believes the reclassification of Internet providers as utilities of would allow the Silicon Valley company access to utility poles that may currently belong to a single provider, a crucial element in the possible wider expansion of Google Fiber.

The National Cable & Telecommunications Association claims that Google already has those rights, but AT&T fought against Google using its poles in Austin in 2013, before the Austin City Council got the Dallas-based phone and Internet giant to allow Google access.

Also, in a precursor to one of many potential coming showdowns between ISP giants and the FCC, the commission on Jan. 29 released new thresholds for what qualifies as broadband access. The new thresholds mean that 25 Mbps is the new standard for downloads, a speed barrier approximately 1 in 6 Americans do not have access to.

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler confirmed early in January that the long-awaited net neutrality regulations would be voted on Feb. 26. Internet giants will undoubtedly be anxious until then, while also preparing a legal fight. Yet, with its possible progression across the country, Google Fiber may make the Comcasts, Verizons and AT&Ts of the world just as uneasy, if not more.