Kentucky a model for broadband expansion

In Martin County, Ky., a remote corner of Appalachia, it can take hours to reach a doctor's office, a simple cholesterol check costing a miner a day's work.

[Roan in Kentucky]

ConnectKentucky's claim that 95% of Kentuckians now have high speed internet access is very misleading. Many may take this to mean that rural people now have access to DSL or internet provided through the cable television pipelines, but it just isn't true. This "access" involves using a very expensive satellite system (can be 3 times more expensive than dial-up, once you've paid for the equipment, and is still weather-dependent) or the "3g Network, " which is a cell phone-based network. Cell phones don't work well in southeastern Kentucky and are not a reliable internet source.

Suggesting that they've solved Kentucky's high speed issues with expensive satellites or internet on a 2 inch by 2 inch cell phone screen is misleading and unfair to the people here who desparately want/need standard broadband options.

Really, just what kind of business can rely on cellphone internet service for their business?

[Matt]

It's hard to determine what ConnectKentucky uses to justify their 95% number. They won't answer the question. As Roan points out, it may depend on the definition of "broadband". I've recently seen it defined as > 2Mbps. That would rule out satellite and 3G. As an individual in a not extremely remote location who has no "broadband" option other than those, I find ConnectKentucky's claim annoying, at best. It would seem to downplay the need for expansion by implying that existing service is better than it really is.

I also have not been able to determine what, if anything, ConnectKentucky is actually doing to help the issue. They mainly seem to be pumping out press releases about how wonderful broadband is. I agree it's wonderful, so stop telling me how great it is and tell me what you're doing to help me get it.

As I look at ConnectKentucky's website and the description of their staff, it seems like nothing more than a scheme to provide jobs for some politically-connected folks. With all the money available in the stimulus, I fear that opportunists like ConnectKentucky will find ways to funnel it to their organizations which do nothing to actually help the problem.

[Mike in Simpson County]

High speed internet in rural Kentucky is a joke.Some body suggesting that broadband in Kentucky be a blue print for the rest of the country must be smoking crack.

[Saluki Rod]

If High Speed Internet is working, how come so many KY'ers still have all those teeth missing?

[James]

If ConnectKentucky's wasteful inactivity is a model for the rest of the country, it's no wonder the US is lagging far behind the rest of the world in broadband access. At one point, ConnectKentucky was promising 100% availability by the end of 2007. Then they did absolutely nothing to achive that goal, other than put out a bunch of self-congratulatory propaganda. When 2007 ended and there were still a lot of Kentuckians without broadband access, they claimed 95% coverage. That's easier to fudge than 100%, because those of us still without broadband access don't really know how many others there are. We know very well that 100% isn't true. It's hard to believe that 95% is true either, but that's harder to determine. In any case, I'd love to see an accurate accounting of just what, if anything, the ConnectKentucky staff did to justify their salaries.

[David]

As a rural, Muhlenberg county Kentuckian, I understand the need for some kind of internet help. 6 years and the ATT monopoly raises dial up rates, lowers dsl rates, and does NO NEW EXPANSIONS. I live on a state hwy, dsl 1 MILE in EITHER DIRECTION. 12 houses cut off, denied for 6 yrs. Connect Kentucky MUST have been a scam, Fletchers cash cow,because MANY Muhlenberg County residents could not get help from these BOZOS. Satellite Internet IS NOT worth the money. I could have sworn that Connect Kentucky was on Wild Blue payroll. They had all the dealer, installer,and contract info for it, but could not provide ONE SINGLE contact at ATT to explain why we were denied access. Connect Kentucky was a fraud, sham, disgrace that needs to be investigated along with all the federal funds allocated for rural internet. Many of us are still waiting. 95% my ass.

[Mike]

You can't trust ConnectKentucky. When I moved to a more rural area of Madisonville, 8 miles out from the city, I checked ConnectKentucky's map. It showed broadband availalbe from Insight...guess what, they don't offer cable services of any kind where I moved. When I notified ConnectKentucky it took them over a year to update the map and now it shows Verizon as a viable broadband option where I live, what a joke.