Our member companies are dedicated to closing the digital divide by ensuring broadband access is affordable and available for as many Kentuckians as possible. Learn more about some of our programs below and see what we’re doing to expand broadband to more Kentuckians.
Comcast Internet Essentials
Since 2011, Internet Essentials from Comcast, which provides low-cost broadband and equipment to qualifying families, has connected 8 million people from low-income families to the internet at home.
Spectrum Internet Assist
Charter’s Spectrum Internet Assist (SIA) is available to eligible households across the 41 states Charter serves. This low-cost broadband option for eligible families and seniors offers speeds of 30 Mbps.
Learning Center
Comcast’s Learning Center is an online portal that provides educational information, free in-person Internet training, and other instruction to help families make the most of their broadband connection.
The largest broadband expansion in Kentucky history
Part of a $5 Billion nationwide investment
A new major statewide investment, including $58 million in federal funds and more than $100 million from Charter Communications, will connect nearly 32,000 Kentucky homes that previously did not have access to broadband.
KBCA member Charter Communications recently announced a $5 billion nationwide investment, offset by $1.2 billion received via the FCC’s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF). This investment will add nearly 115,000 miles to their state-of-the-art network across the country and will connect more than a million new households and small businesses in primarily rural areas.
In Kentucky alone, more than $100 million will be invested, alongside $58 million received via RDOF to connect nearly 32,000 homes across Kentucky to Charter’s broadband network.
All of these homes, which previously did not have access to broadband, will now have access to the full suite of Spectrum products, including a minimum of 200Mbps internet with speeds of up to 1Gig available.
How were specific areas identified for expansion?
The FCC identified census blocks were there were no homes with broadband access. Those census blocks were then put up for the reverse auction for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund.
How did the funding auction work?
Once the census blocks were determined by the FCC, a reverse auction was held and whichever provider offered to build the area using the least amount of federal funding was awarded the funding for that census block.
Did my area receive RDOF funding?
Click on the map above to see the official FCC map of RDOF areas. The map will allow you to zoom in to see which areas will receive coverage and which providers will be utilizing the funding.
When will construction begin?
This is a MAJOR construction project and will not happen over night. Providers must first obtain Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (ETC) status before any construction can begin.