MOREHEAD, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Faster broadband will be available to more than 8,200 Rowan County residents from Kinetic by Windstream by year’s end. As part of a $2 billion, multi-year initiative to dramatically expand gigabit internet service across its 18-state footprint, Kinetic is deploying fiber to bring blazing fast internet to homes and businesses in Rowan County.
Kinetic officials were joined today by Rocky Adkins, senior advisor to Governor Andy Beshear; Rowan County Judge/Executive Harry Clark, community leaders, and students for a ceremony at Rowan County Middle School to celebrate the latest fiber expansion in the Commonwealth.
“Today is an exciting day for the Rowan County community, the Eastern Kentucky region, and the Commonwealth as a whole,” said Rocky Adkins, senior advisor to Governor Andy Beshear. “Reliable, high-speed broadband access plays a pivotal role in connecting rural Kentuckians to education, economic development, telehealth, and many other opportunities, and this ambitious project will be transformative for local students, families, and businesses.”
Judge/Executive Harry Clark noted the importance of communitywide collaboration in making this bold initiative a reality.
Clark announced that Rowan County Fiscal Court and Windstream have applied for support from the Kentucky Broadband Deployment Fund to build fiber-to-the-home gig service to an additional 4,169 additional homes. If the state support is awarded, it will enable fiber deployment through much of the county.
“The Fiscal Court is grateful for the strong teamwork between Windstream and our Rowan County Broadband Advisory Council, the Morehead-Rowan County Chamber of Commerce, and many other community partners that worked to deliver this vital project,” said Clark. “With gig-speed fiberoptic internet access, our citizens will be better connected to succeed, and Rowan County is poised to grow and thrive.”
Tony Thomas, president and CEO of Windstream, said the fiber build highlights Kinetic’s continued commitment to Rowan County.
“Now more than ever, access to reliable, high-speed broadband is essential for commerce, education, telehealth, remote work, and overall connectivity,” said Thomas. “Kinetic has been delivering broadband service to Rowan County and communities across Kentucky for years, and our customers know they can count on us as a trusted partner to increase economic opportunity and enhance quality of life.”
As the largest private company with a middle-mile infrastructure in Rowan County, Kinetic provides a solid and reliable base from which to build last-mile fiber connections. These connections will be essential to deliver fast, reliable internet speeds to unserved areas.
Thomas noted Morehead is an important center for the company, with more than 30 Kinetic customer service technicians, network technicians, engineers and managers working in the central office at 154 East Second Street.
Kinetic is currently engaged in a $2 billion, multi-year construction initiative to dramatically expand gigabit internet service deploying fiber across its 18-state footprint. As a result of the company’s multi-state network expansion, Kinetic either has or will have fiber in every county it serves in Kentucky over the next couple of years. Since 2019, the company has invested $193 million to expand broadband access in the commonwealth. Almost 92,000 locations had access to gig speeds at the end of 2020.
