cn|2 Pure Politics  – Public-private partnership will create 3,000-mile fiber network throughout Kentucky, improve broadband access in mountains

Public-private partnership will create 3,000-mile fiber network throughout Kentucky, improve broadband access in mountains
12/23/2014 09:57 PM
by Kevin Wheatley  •  Filed under: From Frankfort
FRANKFORT — Congressman Hal Rogers’ vision of a “silicon holler” in eastern Kentucky came closer to reality Tuesday after officials announced a wide-ranging effort to provide high-speed Internet access throughout the state, with Appalachia getting some early attention.

Rogers, Gov. Steve Beshear and others touted the public-private partnership between Kentucky and Australia-based Macquarie Capital to develop a fiber infrastructure as a godsend for the impoverished mountain region.

“Eastern Kentucky will be equal to the world in limitless technology — no more boundaries sketched by our terrain, no more boundaries for high-tech work,” said Rogers, R-Somerset. “In the past we were limited by rough terrain and a shortage of modern highways. We can truly create a ‘silicon holler’ and compete with the rest of the world because the cable levels those mountains and gives every county worldwide access.”

Eastern Kentucky is a priority in the Next Generation Kentucky Information Highway plan, as officials hope to complete work on a fiber infrastructure “spine” from northern Kentucky to Williamsburg along Interstate 75 by spring 2016.

Source: mycn2.com

Significant news on the Gigabit #broadband internet services front in Kentucky!

See on Scoop.it – BroadbandPolicy