The $2.5 million dollar investment will allow for construction of 47 miles of buried fiber optic
cables benefitting hundreds of residents
MAYFIELD, Kentucky — West Kentucky & Tennessee Telecommunications is among the recipients of a grant from the Governor’s Better Internet Program, enabling the cooperative to expand its network and bring high-speed internet to underserved and unserved areas of Marshall County.
The grant will cover half the cost of the $2.5 million project, with WK&T and Marshall County
partnering to fund the remaining 50%.
The project will deliver speeds up to 1 gig in rural areas of Marshall County and involves construction of 47 miles of buried fiber optic cables. When completed, at least 249 locations that do not currently have access to qualified broadband will be ale to connect to high-speed fiber service. The project areas are close to Interstate 24 and Interstate 69, and the eastern area is near Kentucky Lake and related tourist attractions, including Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park.
“This grant award means that WK&T will be able to bring life-changing high-speed internet access to areas of Marshall County where this type of technology has been inaccessible,” said WK&T CEO
Trevor Bonnstetter. “We are excited to be bringing our members the technology they need to improve their daily lives and open up countless opportunities for remote work, education, entertainment, health care and more.”
Marshall County Judge Executive Kevin Neal highlighted the significance of this project.
“This award is an important step towards ensuring that more Marshall County homes and businesses get access to this much-needed fiber-optic broadband technology,” he said. “High-speed internet is no longer a luxury but a necessity to support the growth of our communities, and we feel optimistic about the opportunities this project will open up for the underserved rural areas of our county.”
WK&T was one of 12 providers selected after a strict and highly-competitive process overseen by the
Finance and Administration Cabinet. The Cabinet received almost 100 proposals that were carefully
evaluated and scored. To learn more about WK&T and receive fiber build updates, visit mywkt.net.