KentuckyWired is public-private partnership to create statewide broadband network
A plan called KentuckyWired, which envisions creating a “middle mile” fiber backbone in the state to provide broadband to all 120 counties, is getting pushback from AT&T and other groups.
The idea is to leverage private capital to build a public network expected to cost $324 million. It’s planned as an “open access” network that cities, partnerships and Internet service providers can tap into; those groups could build out “last mile” connections from the so-called “middle mile” public network.
According to reports, AT&T filed a protest regarding how the state awards Internet service contracts; some of those contracts were awarded to KentuckyWired. Similarly a group of rural Kentucky service providers and the Kentucky Telecom Association are also opposed to the plan. Other opponents, according to Kentucky.com, are the Coalition for the New Economy, the Taxpayer Protection Alliance and the Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions.
There’s another wrinkle in the plan with an $11 million financing shortfall, according to Kentucky-based WDRB.
William Landrum, state secretary of the Finance and Administration Cabinet, said the plan would still move forward.
“I am continuing to support the program as it stands current,” Landrum said. “My intent is simply to take care of the taxpayers of Kentucky; it’s simply to ensure that the taxpayers’ wallets are not put at risk.”
Assuming everything proceeds on schedule, the network is expected to be complete by fall 2018.
