Coal to Broadband

Grant phase of four-county broadband expansion project completed

On 02.07.13, In BELP Update, Breathitt County, Broadband Expansion, Estill County, Lee County, Powell county, By admin

Frankfort, KY – The Breathitt, Estill, Lee, and Powell (BELP) Regional Technology Authority (RTA) and ALTIUS Broadband are excited to announce the completion of the grant-funded phase of a fixed wireless network to bring broadband to more residents of Breathitt, Estill, Lee, and Powell (BELP) counties.

The final grant-funded phase of the four county fixed wireless network was recently completed in Breathitt County with the successful build out of five towers, and already more than 100 regional households have taken advantage of the new service availability.

This broadband expansion project for the four BELP counties began in November 2009. In late 2010, the RTA selected ALTIUS Broadband to build out a broadband network in the rural areas of the four counties unserved and underserved by high-speed broadband. ConnectKentucky has provided technical assistance throughout the project.

“Quality infrastructure is a necessary foundation for any community to have substantial economic growth,” said Department for Local Government Commissioner Tony Wilder. “This broadband development project will benefit residents and businesses throughout the BELP region by providing them with access to twenty-first century communication. Thank you to all of the federal, state, and local partners who helped bring this significant development project to fruition.”

“ConnectKentucky is grateful to have worked as technical consultant for the ConnectBELP project,” said ConnectKentucky Executive Director René True. “A consortium of partners ensured a successful completion of the initial grant phase of the project, including the County Judge Executives in Breathitt, Estill, Lee, and Powell counties, the Department for Local Government, the USDA Rural Development, the BELP Regional Technology Authority Board, and ALTIUS Broadband. The team effort resulted in the expansion of broadband technologies in the rural parts of four geographically challenged counties, unserved by more traditional broadband networks. Now thousands of residents can gain access to the life changing benefits afforded by broadband.”

Hilly topography and widely dispersed populations are a challenge for broadband connectivity across the country. The RTA, ALTIUS Broadband, and ConnectKentucky are exploring all options to bridge the broadband gaps in the BELP communities.

“As we predicted, The BELP project was a major milestone for a fixed wireless microwave network in this country,” said Jim Connor, president of ALTIUS Broadband. “Our partnership with BELP Regional Technology Authority and ConnectKentucky will serve as a model for communities throughout the United States on expanding broadband services in some of the most remote areas to ensure their connectivity and bridge the digital divide. Without this type of partnership these projects would be impossible and the thousands of people that live in these areas would be left at huge competitive disadvantage.”

The Breathitt County broadband equipment installation marks the completion of the initial project funded by the Appalachian Regional Commission and coal severance tax grants secured in cooperation with the Kentucky Department for Local Government. Work by ALTUIS Broadband will continue as opportunities to install equipment on other communication towers become available and demand for broadband service is demonstrated.

“We continue work in communities across the Commonwealth to bring the life-changing benefits of broadband to as many Kentucky businesses and residents as possible,” said True.

Tagged with: Breathitt County • broadband in east kentucky • Connect Kentucky • Fixed Wireless Internet Service • Internet in Breathitt County

Powell County now Online with Fixed Wireless Broadband

On 10.16.12, In BELP Update, Broadband Expansion, Powell county, By admin

Powell County, KY – The Breathitt, Estill, Lee and Powell (BELP) Regional Technology Authority (RTA) and ALTIUS Broadband are excited to announce the initial completion of a fixed wireless network to bring broadband to more residents of Powell County.

“Many more Powell County rural residents now have access to broadband connectivity,” said ConnectKentucky Executive Director Rene True. “Broadband opens the doors for better educational opportunities, improved economic development, and community engagement. ConnectKentucky appreciates the support of all the partners of this project, especially Governor Beshear and the staff at the Department for Local Government for making the grant funding process available for broadband projects.”

The third phase of the four county fixed wireless network was recently completed in Powell County with the successful build out of the WSKV tower, Pompeii, Lower Cane Creek One, Lower Cane Creek Two, and Furnace Road water towers. The fourth phase of the project is scheduled for the Breathitt County area with build out beginning in the next few weeks.

This broadband expansion project for the four BELP counties began in November 2009. In late 2010, the RTA selected ALTIUS Broadband to build out a broadband network in the rural areas of the four counties unserved and underserved by high-speed broadband. ConnectKentucky has provided technical assistance throughout the project.

Hilly topography and widely dispersed populations are a challenge for broadband connectivity across the country. The RTA and ConnectKentucky are exploring all options to bridge the broadband gaps.

“The Finance Cabinet understands coverage issues that many Kentuckians face,” said Lori H. Flanery, secretary of the Finance and Administration Cabinet and interim CIO for the Commonwealth. “We are supportive of innovative ways to deliver broadband and will explore partnerships to help bring service to more areas of Kentucky.”

“We are excited to have the initial build out for phase 3 complete. Many of the rural residents of Powell County will now have a true broadband Internet option that will open the doors to many new learning experiences,” said ALTIUS President, CEO Jim Conner. “As with the other BELP counties we will continue to seek ways to further the expansion of tower sites within Powell County to reach more households. Breathitt County is next on the agenda and will be beginning that build within 2-3 weeks.”

The preliminary completion of the Estill and Lee portions of the project happened in January and April, respectively.

While the completion of those build outs has brought broadband to hundreds of previously unserved homes, the work in all four counties continues.

“We are committed to continue working in these communities to bring the life-changing benefits of broadband to as many Breathitt, Estill, Lee, and Powell businesses and residents as possible,” said True.

Tagged with: Fixed Wireless Internet Service • Internet availability • Powell County • Sign up for Internet

Altius provides first broadband installation for customer in Lee County

On 04.30.12, In Broadband Expansion, Lee County, By admin

From Left to Right Brandon Fizer and Chris Fry of Altius Broadband along with Kim and Tim Mitchell

“We are ecstatic so far with the service we are receiving from Altius Broadband and we abundantly thank Altius for providing broadband to the area.

We were incredibly impressed with the follow-up call we received from Altius after the install, as that shows us that your company’s reputation, your service and your customer base is of upmost importance to you and being a customer that is especially comforting to know.”

- Kim and Tim Mitchell

Tagged with: Lee County KY • Sign up for Internet

BELP RTA & ALTIUS Announce Completion of Phase 2 of Wireless Broadband Project

On 04.24.12, In BELP Update, Lee County, By admin

April 24, 2012—The Breathitt, Estill, Lee and Powell Regional Technology Authority (RTA) and ALTIUS Broadband are excited to announce the completion of stage two (Lee County) of our four stage BELP build outs.

The deployment of the fixed wireless microwave network was completed in Lee County with the successful build out of the WLJC, Stacey Hogan, Youth Haven, Southside and KY 498 water towers. The third stage of the project is scheduled for the Powell County area, then finishing with Breathitt County.

René True, Executive Director of ConnectKentucky stated, “Steady progress is underway with the completion of Phase 2 of the four county broadband network known as BELP. With the final installation of network broadband equipment in Lee County by broadband provider ALTIUS Broadband, hundreds of Lee County homes can now take advantage of the life changing benefits offered through broadband access.”

“We are very pleased to see this project completed. Many of our residents are looking forward to using this service,” stated Steve Mays, County Judge Executive.

Brandon Fizer, the General Manager of ALTIUS Broadband, added “I am proud to announce that Altius Broadband has completed the build out of Lee County. After several months of planning and deploying our equipment to significant tower sites we are ready to fulfill the need for broadband to the many awaiting citizens of Lee County.”

Altius Broadband greatly appreciates the patience citizens of these counties have had during the process of the build out and looks forward to serving this great community by bringing broadband to those who have done without for years.

BELP RTA and Altius Announce Completion of Phase I

On 01.31.12, In BELP Update, Broadband Expansion, Estill County, By admin

BELP RTA & ALTIUS Announce Completion of Phase I of
Wireless Broadband Project

Estill County becomes first to benefit from network build

January 31, 2012—The Breathitt, Estill, Lee and Powell Regional Technology Authority (RTA) and ALTIUS Broadband is excited to announce the completion of stage one (Estill County) of our four stage BELP build outs.

The deployment of the fixed wireless microwave network was completed in Estill County with the successful build out of the Wiseman, Ravenna, Sandhill, Racetrack and Redbud water towers. The second stage of the project is scheduled for the Lee County area followed by Powell County then finishing with Breathitt County. ALTIUS will be utilizing the former Emergency Management Center in Irvine, KY as their new Network Operations Center for this project.

René True, Executive Director of ConnectKentucky, the not-for-profit organization responsible for conceiving the broadband project, designing the wireless network and serving as legal and technical advisor to the RTA stated, ”ConnectKentucky is extremely pleased with the completion of Phase 1 of the BELP project. Finally, disconnected families in rural Estill County can begin to explore the life changing benefits that flow from having broadband access. We look forward to working with ALTIUS and the RTA as the project moves on to Lee County.”

Brandon Fizer, the General Manager of ALTIUS Broadband added “I am excited to have phase I of the BELP project complete. This should be a great benefit to those customers who are without high speed internet. We hope to be able to expand more through Estill County as more tower sites become available to us and we look forward to getting started on Phase II, Lee County. “

I was tired of not having a high speed internet connection. I called the phone company multiple times and couldn’t get anywhere. With our new Altius wireless internet, I never have to worry about missing that important email or getting important work done. And the speed is so much faster than before!

David Giles
Irvine, KY

About ALTIUS:

Headquartered in Phoenix Maryland, ALTIUS Communications is a leading supplier and integrator to the rapidly growing Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) Market. ALTIUS maintains a national and international presence through a network of customers and integrators from around the world. ALTIUS has partnered with the best of breed manufacturers in the BWA space to enable the successful pursuit of long term customer satisfaction in support of service provider, government, and enterprise initiatives. ALTIUS serves public and private sector clients with Wireless Technology solutions and onsite professionals for the three main disciplines of broadband wireless; Last Mile Connectivity, Back Haul and Mesh Networks.

http://www.altiusbroadband.com

http://www.altiuscomm.com

Tagged with: Estill County Broadband • Phase 1 Broadband Build out Completed

Contract for Four-County Broadband Service Network Now Signed

On 09.13.11, In BELP Update, Broadband Expansion, By admin

Subscribe to BELP Updates

Construction Contract Has Been Signed Between Altius Broadband, LLC and the Breathitt,
Estill, Lee, and Powell (BELP) Regional Technology Authority to Expand
Broadband Service in the Four County Region

Frankfort, KY—The Breathitt, Estill, Lee, and Powell Regional Technology Authority (RTA) and Altius Broadband have signed a contract to begin construction on a broadband service network in four Eastern Kentucky counties.

“The RTA is proud to partner with Altius Broadband to bring broadband service to the rural residents of Breathitt, Estill, Lee, and Powell counties,” said Joe Crawford, RTA chairman.
“Having a signed construction contract is a significant step for the project, but not one the RTA Board takes lightly in our quest to get the best broadband service possible with the limited funds available.”

This broadband expansion project, “Coal to Broadband: Making the Transition, Making the Connection,” began in November 2009. In Spring 2010, the RTA and Connect Kentucky, as a technical advisor, solicited request for proposals to help build out a broadband network in the rural areas of Breathitt, Estill, Lee, and Powell counties.

After a review of the work plans and contract terms discussions, the RTA signed an agreement with Altius for the construction of the broadband network on September 9. This contract
will allow the construction phase of the project to begin. Preliminary work, like securing access to water tank and tower locations for equipment installation, and contracting for an Internet backhaul connection has already begun.

“The BELP project will be an important deployment of a fixed wireless microwave network in this country,” said Jim Connor, president of Altius Broadband, LLC. “Our partnership with BELP and ConnectKentucky will serve as a model for communities throughout the United States on expanding broadband services in some of the most remote areas to ensure their connectivity and bridge the digital divide.”

“ConnectKentucky is excited that the construction phase of the ConnectBELP project can begin,” said Rene True, executive director of ConnectKentucky. “The citizens of the four counties have been more than patient as we worked out the details of the project leading up to the construction phase. The RTA volunteer board is to be commended for making an extra effort to contract with the broadband provider that can deliver the best broadband network within the project budget.”

To learn more about the project, visit www.connectbelp.org.

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Related Links:

Altius Broadband: http://altiusbroadband.com/

Press Release: Governor Beshear Announces Grant to Provide Broadband Access to Eastern Kentucky Region (11/03/09)

Press Release: RFP Seeks Plans from All Types of Providers in Order to Bring Broadband Service to Breathitt, Estill, Lee and Powell Counties (03/08/10)

Tagged with: Altius Communications • Breathitt County • Broadband Build Out • Broadband Contract Signed • Connect Kentucky • Estill County • Lee County • Powell County

BELP Project Update

On 09.01.10, In BELP Update, Technology Survey and Awareness, By admin

Greetings! It has been awhile since the last update, but the Regional Technology Authority (RTA) and ConnectKentucky have been busy negotiating with potential broadband contractors selected through the request for proposal (RFP) process. The most important goal of contract negotiations is to select a vendor who can meet the broadband coverage areas, download specifications and all other requirements that are outlined in the RFP.

Because the RTA strives to ensure the feasibility of each bidder’s work plan prior to executing a contract, negotiations are taking much longer than originally anticipated. Work plans submitted by vendors must adhere to the strict testing requirements recommended by ConnectKentucky and adopted by the RTA. The RTA understands they have only one bite at the apple, thus they want to utilize the state and federal funds provided for the project in the most efficient way possible. .

In other developments, Windstream Communications received notice of a federal broadband stimulus grant for numerous unserved and underserved areas of Kentucky. Windstream’s federal grant covers parts of Estill, Lee and Powell counties. Once the Windstream coverage areas are fully determined, we may be able to stretch the ConnectBELP project dollars further than originally anticipated.

In addition, check the ConnectBELP website to view information on the household technology survey conducted earlier this year. A summary of the survey results are posted on the website.

Thank you for your patience as the RTA and ConnectKentucky work together to bring broadband to rural Breathitt, Estill, Lee, and Powell counties.

RTA Releases Results of Technology Survey

On 09.01.10, In Technology Survey and Awareness, By admin

Frankfort, KY— ConnectKentucky, in conjunction with the Breathitt, Estill, Lee, and Powell Regional Technology Authority (RTA), have completed a substantial technology assessment of the four county region.

The pilot study, which began in late March, focused on how people in the four Kentucky counties access and use the Internet. The survey is part of the “Coal to Broadband: Making the Transition, Making the Connection,” program, which is underway to help bring broadband service to Breathitt, Estill, Lee, and Powell counties.

ConnectKentucky, serving as the technical advisor for the project, surveyed 504 adults living in the four counties in April and May. Surveys were conducted through a variety of methods, including telephone interviews, in-person interviews, and an online survey.

Key findings include:

Among survey respondents, 93 percent own a computer, but only 37 percent subscribe to home broadband service. An even larger share (39 percent of respondents) subscribes to home dial-up service. This means that more than one out of five households in the community do not subscribe to any home Internet service at all.
The most popular locations for accessing the Internet are home (71 percent) and work (62 percent). Libraries (11 percent), a friend or family member’s home (4 percent), and schools (3 percent) are being used for Internet access at considerably lower rates.
The highest rate of broadband adoption is in Estill County (53 percent), followed by Breathitt (36 percent), Powell (31 percent), and Lee (26 percent).
Each of the four counties reported computer ownership rates between 90-94 percent. This shows that many individuals own a computer, but do not subscribe to broadband for some other reason. The most popular reason for not having home Internet access is a lack of broadband availability combined with a lack of interest in subscribing to dial-up (64 percent). The second most popular obstacle to adoption is the price of subscribing (20 percent).
Individuals with higher incomes are only slightly more likely to own a computer. A more substantial indicator of computer ownership is the individual’s age, with 98 percent of respondents age 35-44 owning a computer, compared to 71 percent of respondents age 65 or older. While there is a large disparity in computer ownership, the survey showed little connection between age and broadband adoption.
The most popular online activities among survey respondents are information searches, communicating with friends and family, and business transactions.
Region-wide, 98 percent of all respondents reported that either they or another member of their household used the Internet in the past 30 days.
Additionally, 41 percent of respondents who access the Internet spend three hours or more online on an average day. This is further evidence that once people have access to the Internet, they will likely take advantage of that opportunity.

“The survey results clearly express an interest and capacity by citizens of Breathitt, Estill, Lee & Powell counties to adopt broadband technology,” said René True, Executive Director of ConnectKentucky. “With over 90% of respondents indicating they already have a home computer and 64% without broadband service indicating the primary reason for not having service is that the service is not available, a demand exists for broadband service to expand in the four counties,” added True.

View the Survey Summary

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BELP RTA received several responses to RFP

On 05.10.10, In Uncategorized, By admin

The Breathitt, Estill, Lee and Powell Regional Technology Authority (RTA) received several responses to the RFP by the deadline of April 5, 2010. The RFP Evaluation Committee, which is composed of the RTA members and supported by ConnectKentucky as technical advisor, reviewed all RFP responses as a group on April 8, 2010. The RFP Evaluation Committee conducted follow up in-person oral interviews on April 23, 2010.

The RFP Evaluation Committee held another review meeting on April 29^th in Beattyville. The meeting was held to discuss what the committee observed during the oral interviews and to discuss steps towards making a decision on selecting a company for the broadband network. ConnectKentucky participated in answering technical questions and provided background information, before the committee went into deliberations. The RFP Evaluation Committee made the strategic decision to move in a cautious, deliberate manner for selecting a broadband company. Rushing the selection of a company could only compromise the evaluation process. All four county’s representatives on the Evaluation Committee need an adequate opportunity to provide feedback during the RFP evaluation and selection process.

Selection of a winning respondent will not be announced until after completion of contract negotiations are finalized to allow the RTA a full range of options in working with broadband companies.

ConnectKentucky Continues Technology Surveys in Four Kentucky Counties Until End of April

On 04.15.10, In Technology Survey and Awareness, By admin

Frankfort, KY—ConnectKentucky will continue conducting a technology study for the Breathitt, Estill, Lee, and Powell Regional Technology Authority (RTA), through the end of April.

This pilot study, which began in late March, will focus on how people in the four Kentucky counties access and use the Internet. The survey is part of the “Coal to Broadband: Making the Transition, Making the Connection,” program, which is underway to help bring broadband service to Breathitt, Estill, Lee, and Powell counties.

Over the past three weeks, ConnectKentucky has been conducting phone and Internet surveys with residents of Breathitt, Estill, Lee, and Powell counties as part of the work of the RTA. In addition, hard copy surveys have been distributed by members of the RTA Board at various locations within the four counties.

So far, more than 250 residents of the counties have taken the survey. Yet, more input from county residents is needed, particularly from residents in Powell, Estill, and Lee counties.

How do I participate?
>Take the Internet Survey *

*ConnectKentucky will keep this information completely confidential, and only publish cumulative reports of our survey results. Your contact information will not be sold to a third party nor used for ANY marketing, solicitation or other purpose.

Tagged with: Breathitt County • Estill County • Lee County • Powell County • technology and broadband survey • Technology Survey