(Story by Jeff Ledington, Barbourville Mountain Advocate)
Lt. Governor Jacqueline Coleman joined leaders from SOAR, Cumberland Valley Electric, and Congressman Hal Rogers’ Office in Gray Monday afternoon to present $50,000 toward expanding rural broadband.
Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR) was awarded the funds from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) through the POWER Grant; a federal program aimed at helping areas affected by the fading of the coal industry.
Cumberland Valley Electric will be the first electric co-op in the state to begin working on bringing broadband to underserved areas after Gov. Andy Beshear signed House Bill 320 earlier this year. The bipartisan bill allows local providers and state-owned networks to use existing infrastructure from the co-ops. The bill also allocates $250 million dollars in matching funds for expanding rural broadband.
SOAR Executive Director Colby Hall noted the importance of expanded broadband for Eastern Kentucky and the experience electric co-ops have working in those areas.
Cumberland Valley Electric Director of Economic Development Rich Prewitt noted that while the co-op isn’t an expert on internet, “we have the poles.”
Coleman struck a similar tone, stating that “internet is as important as electricity in 2021.”
