FRANKFORT, Ky. – Kentucky will receive a $5.8 million federal “Internet for All” grant to support the expansion of high-speed, reliable Internet throughout the Commonwealth, Gov. Andy Beshear announced Nov. 8.
Kentucky applied for and was awarded the funding through the federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program.
Under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, BEAD will provide $42.45 billion to states and U.S. territories to expand high-speed Internet access by funding broadband planning, infrastructure deployment, and adoption programs.
“High-speed Internet is critical to future job creation, educational opportunities, health accessibility and economic endeavors,” US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said via a press release. – speed internet access. They have demonstrated a strong commitment to closing Kentucky’s digital divide through their existing Better Kentucky Plan and their proposed Better Internet for Kentucky Plan. “
The planning grant was awarded to Kentucky by the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). The more than $5 million that Kentucky will receive will:
- Identification of unserved and underserved places;
- Increased capacity of Kentucky’s broadband office;
- Asset mapping to identify existing activities that support the project’s objective and identify gaps in access, affordability and adoption;
- Collaboration with Kentucky’s state digital equity plan; and
- Local engagement with unserved, underserved and underrepresented communities to better understand barriers to adoption.
This funding will help Gov. Further strengthen Beshear’s initiative to expand high-speed Internet access to areas of the Commonwealth with underserved populations or those with download speeds of 10 Mbps or less through its Better Internet Initiative.
“Expanding access to reliable, high-speed Internet will improve the lives of Kentuckians and support our future economic growth,” Governor Beshear said via press release. “I am grateful to the Biden-Harris administration for this ‘Internet for All’ grant, which, along with our already historic investments in broadband infrastructure, will bring transformational change to the Commonwealth and benefit Kentuckians for generations to come.”
This summer, Gov. Beshear announced more than $89.6 million in grants to expand high-speed Internet access to more than 34,000 Kentucky families and businesses in 36 counties. Combined with matching funds pledged by grant recipients, the total investment for the first round of broadband grants exceeds $204 million.
On November 21, Governor Beshear announced that applications are now being accepted for a second round of more than $206 million in broadband grants that will help create a vital lifeline for health care, work, school, family, friends, customers and communities for even more Kentuckians.
The Governor’s Better Internet Initiative is a key part of his Better Kentucky plan, which aims to help the commonwealth lead in the post-COVID economy by leveraging federal dollars to build new schools, clean deliver drinking water, expand access to high-speed internet, build stronger communities, improve roads and bridges and expand electric vehicle infrastructure.
