By Robert L. Quick
Special to NKyTribune
On behalf of our more than 1,700 members, Commerce Lexington Inc. recognizes the critical role telecommunications infrastructure plays in attracting and retaining jobs for Central Kentucky.
Investments in traditional infrastructure needs such as roads, bridges, water and rail continue to be important to our region’s economic growth. However, in today’s marketplace, future economic development also depends on our ability to offer businesses access to a robust and reliable telecommunications network.
We frequently hear from both large and small companies – especially those in the high-tech sector – about the need for increased access to affordable, high-speed broadband technologies.
In fact, Ookla, an Internet metrics company, ranked Lexington’s 16.2 megabits per second as 38th of 96 Kentucky cities and towns where the Internet is available.
Unfortunately, Kentucky’s outdated telecommunication law often discourages providers from making more investments in wireless and broadband technologies because of the requirement to invest in old technologies and antiquated infrastructure.
Our competitor states have modernized their telecommunication law to allow providers to more efficiently and effectively allocate available resources to the technologies of the future.
This session, Commerce Lexington urges the Kentucky General Assembly to take responsible steps toward modernizing Kentucky’s telecommunication law and encouraging much-needed investments in new technologies while ensuring proper safeguards are in place to protect consumer access to reliable voice services.
From our perspective, more investments in new wireless and broadband technologies will help create higher capacity networks and better service options for consumers, businesses as well as education and health-care providers critical to our region’s economy.
Modernizing laws to allow for smarter investments in telecommunication infrastructure will enable Kentucky to compete for jobs now and in the future.
By passing Senate Bill 3 and House Bill 152, lawmakers will be sending an important signal that Kentucky is open for business and encouraging the development of a first-class telecommunication network.
Robert L. Quick is president and CEO of Commerce Lexington.