Broadband grants management portal open

Monday, August 5, 2024 at 5:57 AM

Bring affordable, reliable high-speed internet service to every Kentuckian.

(Story Courtesy of Kentucky Today)

FRANKFORT, Ky. (KT) – Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said Friday the state has opened the Broadband Grants Management Portal for user registration as part of his pledge to connect every home and business in Kentucky to high-speed internet.

Registering is the first step in applying for funds from Kentucky’s $1.1 billion allocation from the federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program, which Beshear first announced Kentucky would receive in June 2023. Internet service providers, local governments and nonprofits are all eligible.

In June 2024, the governor joined federal officials to announce that Kentucky’s BEAD program proposal was approved, which allowed the state to request access to its funding allocation.

The goal of the BEAD Program, the largest public investment in high-speed internet in the state’s history, is to bring affordable, reliable high-speed internet service to every Kentuckian.

“Every Kentuckian deserves access to high-speed internet because it’s a necessity for work, school, health care and so much more,” Beshear said. “We are making sure everybody gets connected – and that they can get reliable service at an affordable price.”

The second step – the pre-qualification phase – will open Aug. 14 and close at 6 p.m. EDT on Sept. 13. Managerial, technical and operational information from prospective applicants will be collected during this step. The third step will be the submission of applications for BEAD funding, which is expected to open in November.

Users are encouraged to plan ahead and enter their information in advance of the portal closing to allow time for questions, clarifications or technical issues. Users must complete the pre-qualification process to apply for BEAD funds. The state’s Office of Broadband Development is overseeing the three-phase process, and additional information and instructions are available in the portal’s user guide.

The governor continues to encourage Kentuckians to take the internet Speed Test (for desktop, laptop, tablets and smartphones) and the Mobile Speed Test (smartphones only)