Gov. Steve Beshear has signed an executive order creating the Kentucky Communications Network Authority and its governing board to manage the KentuckyWired open-access broadband network.
The project is designed to create high-speed Internet connectivity throughout Kentucky. According to a press release from the governor’s office, more than 3,000 miles of fiber infrastructure, often referred to as the “middle mile,” will be built over the next two to three years.
The members of the authority will manage the Next Generation Kentucky Information Highway line-item capital project and the Next Generation Kentucky Information Highway Fund, both authorized by House Bill 235 in the 2014 General Assembly. The total project is projected to cost approximately $324 million. The project consists of $30 million in state bond funds and $23.5 million in Federal Funds. The remainder of the project, $270.9 million, will be funded with private investment.
The authority will be a part of the General Government Cabinet and attached to the Office of the Governor. It will be responsible for overseeing the public-private-partnership master agreement with consortium partners – Macquarie Infrastructure Developments LLC, Ledcor US Venture Inc., and First Solutions LLC.
The governing board for KCNA will consist of:
· The secretary of the governor’s Executive Cabinet, or designee;
· The state budget director, or designee;
· The executive director of the Public Service Commission, or designee;
· The chief information officer, or designee; and
· The chief executive officer of the Center for Rural Development, or designee.
Construction of the network will begin in Eastern Kentucky, the first priority region for the project.