Governor Andy Beshear believes $1.1 billion will be enough to provide every Kentuckian with high-speed Internet access. It is the largest federal grant for high-speed Internet the state has ever received. The federal grant is part of the Biden administration’s Broadband Equity, Access and Development program, which aims to provide all Americans with reliable and affordable Internet access by 2030. Beshear was joined by the states secretary of commerce Joined Gina Raimondo, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg, Congressman Morgan McGarvey and other officials Tuesday for the announcement at Simmon’s College. “High-speed Internet is no longer a luxury; it’s a necessity,” Beshear said. “If your internet connection can’t run at a certain speed, it’s not valuable to you, and it can’t run many of the systems you need.” mainly in rural parts of the state. “It’s expensive to lay down the fiber to connect those people,” Raimondo said. “So this $1.1 billion, we know, is enough money to get the job done and finally connect everyone.” The governor hopes to provide not only reliable Internet access, but also affordable service. Some of the funds will also be allocated to the accessible connectivity programme. The ACP will help provide financial assistance to eligible families. For more information on this program, click here. Now, the state is looking for service providers to help get the job done. The state will accept offers from private and non-profit organizations. Much of the foundation work has already been installed, thanks to the 2016 Kentucky Wired project. This will help speed up the process, according to Beshear. However, expect the plan to take several years to implement.
Governor Andy Beshear believes $1.1 billion will be enough to provide every Kentuckian with high-speed Internet access.
It is the largest federal grant for high-speed Internet the state has ever received.
The federal grant is part of the Biden administration’s Broadband Equity, Access and Development program, which aims to provide all Americans with reliable and affordable Internet access by 2030.
Beshear was joined on Tuesday by US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg, Congressman Morgan McGarvey and other officials for the announcement at Simmon’s College.
“High-speed Internet is no longer a luxury; it’s a necessity,” Beshear said. “If your internet connection can’t run at a certain speed, it’s not valuable to you, and it can’t run many of the systems you need.”
Secretary Raimondo said there are still an estimated 300,000 locations across the state that lack reliable Internet access, mostly in rural parts of the state. “It’s expensive to lay down the fiber to connect those people,” Raimondo said. “So this $1.1 billion, we know, is enough money to get the job done and finally connect everyone.”
The governor hopes to provide not only reliable Internet access, but also affordable service.
Some of the funds will also be allocated to the accessible connectivity programme. The ACP will help provide financial assistance to eligible families. For more information on this program, click here.
Now, the state is looking for service providers to help get the job done. The state will accept offers from private and non-profit organizations.
Much of the foundation work has already been installed, thanks to the 2016 Kentucky Wired project. This will help speed up the process, according to Beshear. However, expect the plan to take several years to implement.
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