NTCA Recognizes Nine Member Companies As Certified Gig-Capable Providers

Arlington, Va. (August 26, 2015)—NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association, the premier association representing nearly 900 independent, community-based telecommunications companies that are leading innovation in rural and small-town America, today announced that nine NTCA members have been named Certified Gig-Capable Providers under a national program highlighting independent telecommunications providers delivering gigabit broadband speeds. 

The NTCA member companies that received certification are: NineStar Connect (Greenfield, Ind.), Wilkes Communications (Wilkesboro, N.C.), Polar Communications (Park River, N.D.), SkyLine Membership Corporation (West Jefferson, N.C.), Omnitel Communications (Nora Springs, Iowa), Premier Communications (Sioux Center, Iowa), Peoples Rural Telephone Cooperative (McKee, Ky.), West Wisconsin Telcom Cooperative (Downsville, Wis.) and Dickey

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Gov. Beshear, Rep. Rogers Launch Statewide Broadband Network

To celebrate the construction of the statewide KentuckyWired, I-Way broadband network, Gov. Steve Beshear, Congressman Hal Rogers, state and local officials and hundreds of citizens gathered at Hazard Community and Technical College to learn more about KentuckyWired and how Kentucky’s future will benefit from broadband. 

The broadband project will begin in eastern Kentucky and over the next three years will spread throughout the state. The benefits of broadband will break down geographic and financial barriers to education and economic development by providing access to affordable, high-quality Internet service to connect

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Promise Zone identifies more than $200 million

Promise Zone identifies more than $200 million in funds

for eight-county region in next 5 to 7 years

LONDON, Ky. – In just 18 months, more than $200 million in funding has been identified for projects in Kentucky’s Promise Zone of Bell, Harlan, Letcher, Perry, Leslie, Clay, Knox and part of Whitley counties.

The funds come from a combination of federal grants, private foundations, federal loans, private investments and other sources of money from outside the Promise Zone.

“We have now identified more than $200 million coming to the Promise Zone over the next 5 to 7 years,” said Jerry Rickett, president & CEO of Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation. “It is all due to the hard work of our partners and community leaders who have devoted their resources, time and expertise to leveraging this tool.”

KHIC is coordinating and managing the process, but there are 55 Promise Zone partners -- ranging from the private sector to local governments to nonprofit organizations. USDA is the lead implementing federal agency for the Kentucky Promise Zone.  

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