ConnectKentucky

ConnectKentucky serves as a model for rapidly bringing broadband connectivity to rural areas in America. It was most recently recognized as the winner of the U.S. Economic Development Administration's Excellence in Innovation Award.

Specifically, ConnectKentucky develops and implements strategies for technology deployment, use, and literacy throughout the state and through teamwork and planning, has demonstrated what can be accomplished in a short period of time.

ConnectKentucky is charged with carrying out Governor Ernie Fletcher's Prescription for Innovation which established aggressive goals for broadband deployment and technology adoption for all Kentuckians, including:

1. Broadband availability for all Kentuckians, businesses and local governments by 2007;

2. Dramatically improved adoption of computers and the Internet;

3. Meaningful online applications for local government, businesses, educators, and other sectors; and

4. Local technology leadership teams in every county promoting technology growth for: local government, business, education, healthcare, agriculture, libraries, tourism, and city-based organizations.

Over the past two years, Kentucky has achieved growth rates in technology availability and adoption that lead the nation. In 2003, about 60% of Kentucky households had the ability to subscribe to broadband. Over the last two years, that number has grown to 90%, an addition of more than 429,000 households able to access broadband at home, in line with the goal of full broadband availability for all Kentuckians by the end of 2007.

Additionally, over the last two years, the growth rate of new subscribers to high-speed Internet in Kentucky was the highest in the nation. During that time, home broadband usage in Kentucky has increased to 46% from 24%.

"Though Kentucky's recent technology progress has been swift, many in our rural communities still find themselves on the wrong side of the digital divide," notes Brian Mefford, president and CEO of ConnectKentucky. "If we do not dare to dream of what the future could hold for the Commonwealth, we are destined to remain at the bottom of many economic rankings. We envision, however, that not only will Kentucky provide world-class technology for its citizens and businesses, but that individuals and companies around the globe will come to recognize Kentucky as a center for economic and job growth." -- Editor

Joe Mefford, statewide broadband director, ConnectKentucky, recently participated in the 2nd Digital Inclusion Roundtable at W2i's Digital Cities Convention in Philadelphia. During the event, he spoke with W2i about mapping service provision in underserved communities as a means to spur innovative solutions to provide broadband access to all Kentucky residents.

Q: How did ConnectKentucky get its start?

A: A couple of years ago, our governor embarked on a statewide initiative to ensure that every household has a form of broadband access by the end of 2007. And what makes that more difficult -- wiring a community, providing wireless broadband -- is our geography. We're talking about a state that has very hilly terrain and very few households per square mile, which makes a business plan very difficult in those rural areas.

But that was our mission. We're a nonprofit, and the governor asked us to oversee and facilitate that initiative on his behalf. We're now two years into that project.

Q: What's the broadband landscape like in Kentucky?

A: When we started, we had broadband availability to 60% of households, and today we stand at 90% through this initiative. And it's not just about providing broadband to those areas, it's about what you do with it when it's there. We're working at the community level. We have 120 counties in Kentucky, and we have local leadership teams in each one of those counties who have strategically planned how they're going to use that technology when it's there. By the end of 2006, each county had pretty much developed its own individual strategic plan.