Powell County - Coal to Broadband

Contract for Four-County Broadband Service Network Now Signed

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

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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)

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

RFP Seeks Plans from All Types of Providers in Order to Bring Broadband Service to Breathitt, Estill, Lee and Powell Counties

On 03.08.10, In Request for Proposal, By admin

Frankfort, KY— ConnectKentucky has issued a request for proposal for the build-out of a four-county broadband network in Eastern Kentucky, with the ultimate goal of providing high-speed Internet service to 7,000 unserved households.

In November 2009, Governor Steve Beshear joined with Department for Local Government Commissioner Tony Wilder, the Breathitt, Estill, Lee and Powell Regional Technology Authority Chairman Joe Crawford, and ConnectKentucky Executive Director René True to announce the launch of the “Coal to Broadband: Making the Transition, Making the Connection,” program, which will help bring broadband service to Breathitt, Estill, Lee, and Powell counties.

ConnectKentucky is serving as technical adviser on the project, working with the newly formed nonprofit, the Breathitt, Estill, Lee and Powell Regional Technology Authority (RTA).

All four of the grant’s impacted counties are in the bottom 25 counties in Kentucky for broadband availability. Breathitt and Lee counties are the two lowest served counties in the state, both with below 50 percent availability of broadband to the home. The RFP covers the infrastructure portion of the broadband project, with the ultimate goal of providing service to approximately 7,000 households in the four-county eastern Kentucky region without access to high-speed Internet.

The network design is based on using fixed-wireless technology; however, ConnectKentucky and the RTA encourage providers of all technology platforms to review the request for proposal and submit their best solution.

In addition, responses that include the combination of the construction phase of the project with a proposal for the operations phase from one company or a partnership of companies may provide the best solution and will receive favorable consideration in the review process.

“In the upcoming weeks, the RTA is looking forward to reviewing a variety of broadband project proposals. We appreciate ConnectKentucky’s technical assistance and guidance during this request for proposal process,” said Crawford. “The ultimate goal of the ‘Coal to Broadband’ project is to reach four of Kentucky’s lowest served counties with high-speed Internet. I strongly encourage providers of all types to submit their plans for completing this worthwhile effort.”

The deadline for responding to the RFP is April 5, 2010, and should be submitted to René True, c/o BELP, 311 West Main Street, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601 or e-mail at rtrue@connectky.org. The announcement of the winning RFP response will occur around May 7, 2010, with construction slated to start soon thereafter. It is estimated the entire construction build-out will take between 5-7 months.

As technical advisor, ConnectKentucky guided the preparation of the RFP and will assist the RTA in understanding the technical aspects of the RFP responses. However, the selection of a provider from the RFP responses is the ultimate responsibility of the RTA and the evaluation team appointed by the RTA.

“ConnectKentucky is proud to be part of the ‘Coal to Broadband’ project and helping to facilitate this request for proposal. This project is going to bring high-speed Internet service to families and businesses in four counties where it is desperately needed and will play an important role in diversifying the region’s economy,” said True. “We look forward to working with the RTA and the successful RFP respondent to provide broadband to the region.”

For a complete copy of the RFP and additional project information, please check the website at http://connectbelp.org/broadband-request-for-proposal/.

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Coal to Broadband

Making the Transition, Making the Connection

Contract for Four-County Broadband Service Network Now Signed

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

*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.

RFP Seeks Plans from All Types of Providers in Order to Bring Broadband Service to Breathitt, Estill, Lee and Powell Counties

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