The local areas that were selected have high concentrations of U-Verse customers and aerial wires versus underground networks. Aerial wire systems are more economical for the company to add the fiber, Sondag said.

AT&T still has yet to determine exactly which neighborhoods in those cities will receive the service. And the company still needs to iron out details with local officials.

“We’ve had conversations with all five mayors of these cities, and they’re all very enthusiastic about working with us,” Sondag said. “The areas that have the most interest, that’s where we’ll build first.”

Ultimately, AT&T wants to add more cities within the region.

“This is the initial list,” Sondag said. “We obviously have interest in expanding it to other cities here.”

Pricing has not been determined, but in Austin, AT&T is offering the faster Internet service for $70 a month, or $120 a month when bundled with television service.

For St. Louis, expanding options for faster Internet service could be a boost to efforts to grow technology startups here, according to Jeff Rainford, chief of staff for Mayor Francis Slay.