LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear joined officials from the Biden administration on Monday morning to talk about the biggest investment in high speed internet in the state's history.
It's part of a $65 billion federal grant program called the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program that is designed to expand affordable and reliable high-speed internet access across the United States. It is part of the Biden-Harris administration's "Internet for All" initiative according to federal officials.
It also aims to tackle digital equity by helping people get access to the digital world, regardless of socioeconomic status or other factors.
Kentucky received over a billion dollars for that program.
"Internet isn't the infrastructure of the future, it's the infrastructure of right now; just as important as roads or bridges, its something everyone wants and everyone needs to be accessible and affordable," Beshear said.
Now the grant will go to businesses to build out the infrastructure needed to connect our unserved areas of Kentucky.
President Joe Biden previously announced every household in the nation will have access to high-speed internet by 2030 using cables made in the U.S.
“These investments will help all Americans,” he said. “We’re not going to leave anyone behind.”
This comes as the Federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) comes to an end.
ACP allowed many low income households to get credit toward their monthly internet costs.
Congress did not extend the program, meaning June will be the first full-priced month for many households.
The FCC said more than 23 million people were subscribed.
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