(Lancaster, Ky - March 11, 2021) - Windstream, a privately held communications and software company who provides internet service in Garrard County, has submitted its application to receive $43 million over 10 years in  the FCC’s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) Phase I auction to bring fiber to-the-home internet services to more than 15,700 locations in Kentucky. 

“This is an exciting opportunity to further expand our fiber network in Kentucky, enabling us to bring gigabit-speed broadband to rural communities that would have been too expensive to serve without a public-private partnership,” Stephanie Bell, Windstream’s vice president of state government affairs in Kentucky said.  

RDOF Phase I targets wholly unserved census blocks, defined as those blocks where no location receives 25/3 Mbps broadband. Windstream received RDOF  support for broadband deployment projects in parts of 59 counties in Kentucky, including Garrard. 

Bell noted Windstream invested almost $47 million in 2020 to expand broadband access in Kentucky. Almost 92,000 locations had access to gig speeds at the end of 2020, while almost 479,400 locations had access to 25 Mbps or more. 

“Partnerships are the key to deploying high-speed broadband in rural areas where the cost of deploying a fiber network would otherwise be prohibitive,” Bell said. “That’s why Windstream is actively seeking partnerships with communities and electric co-ops across Kentucky to accelerate fiber deployment and the related benefits for our customers.” 

Low internet speeds in some areas of Garrard have been an ongoing issue. Back in November, the Garrard County Fiscal Court held a public hearing about the feasibility of funding a project to provide high-speed internet to all parts of Garrard County. More than 2,000 people attended the in-person and online meeting.

In December county magistrates voted to take proposals from internet service providers on how they would expand services to every part of Garrard County for a sum of around $5 million, which would potentially be raised through fees on landline phones. One of the internet service providers expected to submit a proposal is Windstream, however it is unclear at this point whether the FCC grant will have an impact on what that potential project could look like.

Either way, residents in areas that will be impacted by either potential project will welcome the increased speeds and internet access in a time when it is becoming increasingly important for work and education.