ConnectKY

[leslieco]

I'm on the ConnectKy local committee to try and get broadband access to everyone in Leslie County.  I thought I would just give everyone an update as to what has happened so far.

We've had two meetings...the first was a "kick off" session just to introduce everyone and to talk about what ConnectKY is (ConnectkY is a company that the governor has entrusted to help get everyone in Kentucky broadband by 2007).

The second meeting was more of a information gathering session.  People from different sectors of the community all put down how they could use technology and broadband.

The good news is :  we were told that there was all kinds of money to get Leslie County wired with broadband.

The bad news is  :  TDS the primary broadband provider in the county only has plans to add the Stinnett area with DSL.  They have no plans to upgrade any other area of the county.

Everyone is invited to attend these monthly meetings.  They are held in the Leslie County Schools board room at the Hyden Community Center.  I'll post the time and date for the next meeting later.

[Mellow]

Why in the world will TDS not service anyone else? I have family all in hurricane Hollow, and they are all wanting DSL as fast as they can get it. I hope for their sake that DSL covers all of Leslie County by 2007, if there's money to do it, whats stopping them?

[leslieco]

The way it was explained to me was simple...TDS is out to make money.  They will only put DSL to places that have enough people to pay for the equipment and then turn a profit after (I think) 7 years.  I'm not sure how much money has been set aside for Leslie County thru coal tax dollars, but apparently TDS doesn't think its enough.

I'm so fed up with the lack of progress in the county that I'm about ready to try and start a company myself and put up towers in the county and get wireless internet going.  I've talked to some people to see if I can get some grant money, but so far no luck.  I'm going to keep going to the meetings and if no one will help Leslie County jump into the 21st century then I'm going to keep trying until I can do it myself.

*whew* sorry about the little rant.  I'll hush now.   

[leslieco]

The latest meeting was this past Thursday and not a whole lot of new information.  A friend of mine and I are going to try and get some of our local coal servance dollars to try and put up some towers in the county to increase the broadband internet connections and to increase cell phone coverage.  One problem we've ran into is a group from Laurel County is trying to do the same thing.  This county has so little money I want to try and keep as much as we can in the county...so hopefully we can talk the leaders into giving to us local guys instead of outsiders.

Everyone is invited to attend the next meeting.  I'll post the location and date in a few days.

[killroy75]

The best way for the county to increase revenue in my opion is to go wet. you could start a historic tavern that sold home grown moonshine, it would keep alot of money from going to hazard.