While Congress begins reviewing the FCC’s National Broadband Plan recommendations, a number of new projects are getting underway to expand high-speed Internet access to rural and underserved communities. Here is a look at three more states launching broadband projects:
In Kentucky: A new community initiative in Lexington will use a two-year, $1.1 million federal grant to create jobs and train residents on how to use broadband technology. "What we will do is hire from the community five people who will be in the administration of Urban League and these will be under and unemployed people from the neighborhood who will then be trained to go back into their neighborhood to work with their neighbors in their households teaching them how to be engaged, how to be involved and how deal with broadband," said Urban League President PG Peeples. Read the full story here.
In Massachusetts: The OpenCape Corporation has been awarded a $32 million grant to build a 350-mile fiber line which will be used to connect broadband to hospitals, research organizations and other “anchor institutions” in the public and private sector. Full project details here.