FRANKFORT, Ky. — Gov. Andy Beshear said the state has secured a nearly $1.1 billion federal grant, the largest public investment in high-speed internet in the state’s history, bringing affordable, reliable high-speed internet service to every Kentuckian.
“Today is a historic day for Kentucky! Thanks to the support from the federal government, we are going to help connect every family, community and business to high-speed internet,” Gov. Beshear said. “Never before have we seen this type of investment in high-speed internet, and with it comes new infrastructure, more good jobs for our families and a boost to our already booming economy.”
The President announced Kentucky’s funding allocation through the $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, created through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021, the country’s largest-ever investment in high-speed internet. With today’s announcement, Kentucky has received more than $1.6 billion in total high-speed internet funding since the American Rescue Plan Act was passed in March 2021.
BEAD is a National Telecommunications and Information Administration program that will fund additional expansion of high-speed internet networks in Kentucky. The program prioritizes projects that serve areas lacking internet speeds above 25/3Mbps. According to the most recent data released last month by the Federal Communications Commission, Kentucky has over 258,000 unserved locations. The Office of Broadband Development will administer a competitive grant process to distribute these funds to eligible sub-recipients, including internet service providers and local governments, beginning in early 2024.
