KENTUCKY — The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced the approval of broadband projects in four additional states — Alabama, Kentucky, Nevada and Texas, with funding from the American Rescue plan. The funds will connect about 292,000 homes and businesses to affordable, high-speed internet. The goal of the project is to secure affordable, reliable broadband infrastructure to give high-speed internet access to all Americans.

What You Need To Know

  • Kentucky is approved to receive $182.8 million for broadband infrastructure

  • The state estimates will connect over 40,000 households and businesses to high-speed internet access

  • The goal is to provide internet service with speeds of 100/100 Mbps

  • Texas is approved to receive $363.8 million for broadband infrastructure, Alabama will receive $191.9 million and Nevada is approved for $55.2 million

Kentucky is approved to receive $182.8 million for broadband infrastructure, which the state estimates will connect over 40,000 households and businesses to high-speed internet access. The funding will go to the Kentucky Broadband Deployment Fund, a grand program designed to provide broadband service to places that currently have no internet service, followed by areas that lack access to internet at speeds of 25/3 Mbps.

The program aims to enable funding to reach rural areas of the Commonwealth that are hardest to serve. The goal is to provide internet service with speeds of 100/100 Mbps.

Texas is approved to receive $363.8 million for broadband infrastructure, Alabama will receive $191.9 million and Nevada is approved for $55.2 million.

“The pandemic upended life as we knew it and exposed the stark inequity in access to affordable and reliable high-speed internet in communities across the country, including rural, tribal and other underrepresented communities,” said Treasury Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo. “This funding is a key piece of the Biden-Harris Administration’s historic investments to increase access to high-speed internet for millions of Americans and provide more opportunities to fully participate and compete in the 21st century economy.” 

Under the Federal Communications Commission’s Affordable Connectivity Program, low-income families can get a $30 per month subsidy for internet. To further lower the costs, the Biden administration says they have secured commitments from 20 leading internet service providers to offer all ACP-eligible households high-speed internet plans for no more than $30 per month.

That means eligible households can receive internet access at no cost. To check your availability and sign up, go to GetInternet.gov.

The Treasury began announcing state awards in June of last year. So far, 30 states have been approved to invest approximately $4.5 billion in funding for internet infrastructure.

Charter is the parent company of Spectrum News 1.

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