<div><p>The <a href="https://aapb.us/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">American Association for Public Broadband</a> on January 16, 2024, sent a letter to the Kentucky General Assembly in opposition to proposed legislation by State Senator <strong>Gex Williams</strong> that would require the Frankfort Plant Board to sell its telecommunications business to a private entity. </p><p>The FPB has been providing communications services to the residents of Kentucky’s Capital City since 1952 and has been providing broadband Internet access service since 2021. </p><p>AAPB Executive Director <a class="mention" href="https://www.broadband.io/u/59213541" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">@Gigi Sohn</a> issued the following statement<strong>:</strong></p><blockquote><p>The attack on the highly successful and immensely popular Frankfort Plant Board is just the latest in a series of recent dark money efforts to slow the inevitable march toward communities owning their broadband futures. One wonders what has possessed Senator Williams to attempt to upend a public utility that provides robust and affordable broadband Internet access with an incredible 65% take rate. Legislation that would force the sale of a telecommunications business that has provided critical services to the Capital City for over 70 years is a solution in search of a problem.<br><br>Just as in Utah, Michigan and Massachusetts, out-of-state giant incumbent broadband providers continue to hide behind surrogates in an attempt to block competition and community choice.  AAPB will continue to shine a light on and oppose these efforts every time they arise.</p></blockquote></div>

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American Association for Public Broadband opposes restrictions in Kentucky

<h3><em>Alabama, Kentucky, Nevada, and Texas are approved to receive approximately $793.7 million under the American Rescue Plan and will connect over 292,000 homes and businesses to affordable, high-speed internet </em></h3><div><br></div><div>The U.S. Treasury Department on January 26, 2023, announced approval of broadband projects in four additional states under the American Rescue Plan’s <a href="https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/coronavirus/assistance-for-state-local-and-tribal-governments/capital-projects-fund">Capital Projects Fund</a> in President Biden’s American Rescue Plan: <a href="https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/Batch-8-State-Award-Fact-Sheet-AL-Jan-2023.pdf">Alabama</a>, <a href="https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/Batch-8-State-Award-Fact-Sheet-KY-Jan-2023.pdf">Kentucky</a>, <a href="https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/Batch-8-State-Award-Fact-Sheet-NV-Jan-2023.pdf">Nevada</a>, and <a href="https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/Batch-8-State-Award-Fact-Sheet-TX-Jan-2023.pdf">Texas</a>. <br><br>Together, these states will use their funding to connect over 292,000 homes and businesses to affordable, high-speed internet.<br><br></div><div>The Capital Projects Fund provides $10 billion to states, territories, freely associated states, and Tribal governments to fund critical capital projects that enable work, education, and health monitoring in response to the public health emergency. In addition to the $10 billion provided by the CPF, many governments are using a portion of their State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds toward meeting the Biden Administration’s goal of connecting every American household to affordable, reliable high-speed internet. <br><br></div><div>“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 Deputy Secretary <strong>Wally Adeyemo</strong>.</div><div><br></div><div><a href="https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0809">Treasury began announcing state awards in June of last year</a>. To date, 30 states have been approved to invest approximately $4.5 billion of CPF funding in affordable, reliable high-speed internet, which those states estimate will reach more than 1.2 million locations. Treasury will continue approving state and Tribal plans on a rolling basis.<br><br></div><div>Here are the state summaries: <br><br></div><ul><li><a href="https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/Batch-8-State-Award-Fact-Sheet-AL-Jan-2023.pdf"><strong>Alabama </strong></a>is approved to receive $191.9 million for broadband infrastructure, which the state estimates will connect 55,000 households and businesses to high-speed internet access. Alabama’s award will fund the Alabama Broadband Capital Projects Fund, a competitive grant program designed to deploy last-mile infrastructure projects in rural areas of the state. Each of the internet service providers funded by the program will participate in the FCC’s <a href="https://www.fcc.gov/acp">Affordable Connectivity Program</a>. The plan represents 100% of the state’s total allocation under the CPF program.</li><li><a href="https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/Batch-8-State-Award-Fact-Sheet-KY-Jan-2023.pdf"><strong>Kentucky </strong></a>is approved to receive $182.8 million for broadband infrastructure, which the state estimates will connect 45,000 households and businesses to high-speed internet access. Kentucky’s award will fund the Kentucky Broadband Deployment Fund, a competitive grant program designed to provide affordable, reliable broadband service to locations that currently have no internet service, followed by areas that currently lack access to internet at speeds of 25 * 3 Megabits per second (Mbps). The program aims to enable funding to reach rural areas of the Commonwealth that are hardest to serve. Each of the internet service providers funded by the program will participate in the FCC’s <a href="https://www.fcc.gov/acp">Affordable Connectivity Program</a>. The plan represents 100% of the state’s total allocation under the CPF program.  </li><li><a href="https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/Batch-8-State-Award-Fact-Sheet-NV-Jan-2023.pdf"><strong>Nevada </strong></a>is approved to receive $55.2 million for broadband infrastructure, which the state estimates will connect over 40,000 households and businesses to high-speed internet access. Nevada’s award will fund Nevada’s Low-Income Multi-Dwelling Units (MDU) Broadband Program, a competitive grant program designed to fund broadband infrastructure to and within low-income housing. CPF funds will be used to upgrade internet access in MDUs. Each of the internet service providers funded by the program will participate in the FCC’s <a href="https://www.fcc.gov/acp">Affordable Connectivity Program</a>. The plan submitted to Treasury and being approved today represents 41% of the state’s total allocation under the CPF program. Nevada submitted plans for the remainder of their CPF funds and these applications are currently under review by Treasury. </li><li><a href="https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/Batch-8-State-Award-Fact-Sheet-NV-Jan-2023.pdf"><strong>Texas </strong></a>is approved to receive $363.8 million for broadband infrastructure, which the state estimates will connect 152,000 households and businesses to high-speed internet access. Texas’s award will fund the Bringing Online Opportunities to Texans (BOOT) Program, a competitive grant program designed to fund last mile broadband infrastructure projects in areas throughout the state. The BOOT Program will prioritize projects that serve historically socio-economically disadvantaged areas and offer affordable service options and digital literacy support. Each of the internet service providers funded by the program will participate in the FCC’s <a href="https://www.fcc.gov/acp">Affordable Connectivity Program</a>. The plan approved on January 26 represents 73% of the state’s total allocation under the CPF program. Texas submitted plans for the remainder of their CPF funds and these applications are currently under review by Treasury.</li></ul>

Treasury Capital Projects Fund announces $793.7 in awards million under the American Rescue Plan

Meghan Sandfoss

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