SOMERSET, Ky. – The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $5 million to provide broadband service in unserved and underserved rural areas in Kentucky, it announced today. This investment is part of the $550 million Congress allocated to the second round of the ReConnect Program.
“Broadband is a cornerstone to prosperity in Kentucky’s rural communities because it is essential to economic development, as well as access to health care, educational opportunities and connections to people and services,” said Hilda Legg, USDA Kentucky State Director for Rural Development.
Legg said the USDA is committed to being a strong partner in deploying this critical infrastructure in Kentucky and across all of America’s rural communities, “because we know when rural America thrives, all of America thrives,” she said.
Peoples Telecom LLC will use a $2.4 million ReConnect grant and a $2.4 million ReConnect loan to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network. This network will connect 1,618 people, 25 businesses, two farms, a public school, a post office and a fire station to high-speed broadband internet in Rockcastle, Perry, Breathitt and Lee counties in Kentucky.
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