Breaking Ground: Bringing high-speed internet to every home in Kentucky
Digest
This episode of the "Breaking Ground" series delves into the bipartisan infrastructure law's ambitious goal of connecting every American home to high-speed internet. The episode focuses on the challenges and opportunities of broadband rollout in Kentucky, highlighting the importance of federal funding and collaboration between state and federal governments, internet service providers, and local communities. The episode begins by introducing the "Breaking Ground" series and its focus on the infrastructure law's broadband initiative. It then visits a Prismian manufacturing plant in North Carolina, one of only three companies meeting federal standards for domestically manufactured optical fiber. The plant is gearing up for increased production due to the infrastructure law's focus on broadband expansion. The episode then shifts to Kentucky, where the state's broadband development office is working to implement the "Broadband Equity Access and Deployment" (BEAD) program. The program aims to connect all homes and businesses in Kentucky to high-speed internet, with a focus on underserved and unserved areas. The episode follows Chip Span, a federal program officer, as he drives through rural Kentucky to assess broadband access, highlighting the challenges of deploying fiber optic cables in these areas. The episode emphasizes the economic challenges of deploying broadband in rural areas, where low population density and difficult terrain make it costly to reach potential customers. The episode reiterates the Biden administration's preference for fiber optic cables as the primary technology for broadband expansion, acknowledging the challenges of deploying fiber in all areas and the need for a skilled workforce to support the project. The episode concludes by discussing the progress made in Kentucky's broadband expansion efforts, with the BEAD funding now authorized. However, it acknowledges that significant work remains to be done, including addressing challenges and planning for the future.
Outlines
Broadband Expansion in Kentucky: Challenges and Opportunities
This episode explores the bipartisan infrastructure law's goal of connecting every American home to high-speed internet, focusing on the challenges and opportunities of broadband rollout in Kentucky. The episode highlights the importance of federal funding and collaboration between state and federal governments, internet service providers, and local communities.
Manufacturing Fiber Optic Cables for Broadband Expansion
The episode visits a Prismian manufacturing plant in North Carolina, one of only three companies meeting federal standards for domestically manufactured optical fiber. The plant is gearing up for increased production due to the infrastructure law's focus on broadband expansion.
Kentucky's Broadband Development Efforts and the BEAD Program
The episode shifts to Kentucky, where the state's broadband development office is working to implement the "Broadband Equity Access and Deployment" (BEAD) program. The program aims to connect all homes and businesses in Kentucky to high-speed internet, with a focus on underserved and unserved areas.
Challenges and Future of Broadband Deployment in Kentucky
The episode discusses the challenges of deploying broadband in rural areas, including low population density, difficult terrain, and high costs. It reiterates the Biden administration's preference for fiber optic cables and highlights the importance of collaboration between state and federal governments, internet service providers, and local communities for successful broadband deployment. The episode concludes by discussing the progress made in Kentucky's broadband expansion efforts and the significant work that remains to be done.
Keywords
Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD)
A federal program funded by the bipartisan infrastructure law, aiming to provide high-speed internet access to underserved and unserved communities across the United States. States are responsible for distributing the funds and implementing the program.
Fiber Optic Cable
A type of cable that transmits data using light pulses, offering high bandwidth and speed, making it ideal for high-speed internet connections. It is considered more future-proof than other technologies due to its upgradeability.
Unserved and Underserved Areas
Geographic locations lacking access to high-speed internet, defined by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as areas with download speeds below 25 megabits per second and upload speeds below 3 megabits per second, or no internet access at all.
Internet Service Provider (ISP)
A company that provides internet access to consumers and businesses. ISPs play a crucial role in broadband deployment, competing for funding and contracts to build and maintain infrastructure.
Rural Broadband Deployment
The process of extending high-speed internet access to rural areas, often facing challenges due to low population density, difficult terrain, and high costs. Federal funding and innovative business models are essential for successful rural broadband deployment.
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
A law passed in 2021 that provides significant funding for infrastructure projects across the United States, including broadband expansion.
Kentucky Broadband Expansion
The state of Kentucky's efforts to expand high-speed internet access to all residents and businesses, particularly in underserved and unserved areas.
Digital Divide
The gap in access to digital technologies and services between different groups of people, often based on socioeconomic factors, geographic location, or other demographics.
Q&A
What is the goal of the bipartisan infrastructure law regarding broadband access?
The bipartisan infrastructure law aims to connect every home in America to high-speed internet, with a focus on underserved and unserved areas.
What is the role of the Kentucky Office of Broadband Development in implementing the BEAD program?
The Kentucky Office of Broadband Development is responsible for distributing the BEAD funding, creating a map of unserved and underserved areas, and overseeing the deployment of broadband infrastructure.
What are the challenges of deploying broadband in rural areas?
Rural broadband deployment faces challenges such as low population density, difficult terrain, and high costs. These factors make it economically challenging for internet service providers to reach potential customers in these areas.
What is the Biden administration's preferred technology for broadband expansion?
The Biden administration prioritizes fiber optic cables for broadband expansion due to their high bandwidth, speed, and upgradeability. However, it acknowledges that fiber deployment is not feasible in all areas.
What is the importance of collaboration in broadband deployment?
Successful broadband deployment requires collaboration between state and federal governments, internet service providers, and local communities. This collaboration is essential for addressing challenges, coordinating efforts, and ensuring equitable access to high-speed internet.
Show Notes
Roughly 200,000 Kentucky households lack internet access or are “underserved,” according to Meghan Sandfoss, executive director of the state’s Office of Broadband Development. It’s her job to open digital doors for all those residents, rural and otherwise — a tricky task that involves coordinating federal, state and local offices as well as internet service providers, nonprofits and engineers. In this episode, we’ll upack the process of hooking up homes to a fiber-optic network, including getting local buy-in, developing detailed maps and navigating environmental challenges.
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