4:44PM January 31, 2020
Rita Alexander
Admin
Hi, Ken. We can use the ReConnect funds to build broadband infrastructure in areas that meet specific requirements including very limited internet access. For this reason, the ReConnect loan cannot be used to construct fiber to entire zones. However, as we build the areas that qualify for ReConnect, we will use other funding methods to build the remainder of the zone. The zones that will be involved are the South Fulton, Troy, Obion, Hornbeak and Woodland Mills zones in Tennessee and the Fulton, Hickman and Clinton zones in Kentucky.
Our broadband project is in its second year of a 3,100-mile construction project covering parts of four Kentucky counties and eight Tennessee counties. The project is being done in phases and is expected to take another three to four years to complete.
Our members are driving the order of construction. Members can show support of this project and speed construction in their area by registering for the service at join.gibsonconnect.com. Zones that have reached their participation goals and zones funded by grants the cooperative has applied for and received are being built first. Ultimately we plan to provide high-speed, fiber-based internet service access to all of our members.
4:44PM January 31, 2020
Rita Alexander Admin
Hi, Ken. We can use the ReConnect funds to build broadband infrastructure in areas that meet specific requirements including very limited internet access. For this reason, the ReConnect loan cannot be used to construct fiber to entire zones. However, as we build the areas that qualify for ReConnect, we will use other funding methods to build the remainder of the zone. The zones that will be involved are the South Fulton, Troy, Obion, Hornbeak and Woodland Mills zones in Tennessee and the Fulton, Hickman and Clinton zones in Kentucky. Our broadband project is in its second year of a 3,100-mile construction project covering parts of four Kentucky counties and eight Tennessee counties. The project is being done in phases and is expected to take another three to four years to complete. Our members are driving the order of construction. Members can show support of this project and speed construction in their area by registering for the service at join.gibsonconnect.com. Zones that have reached their participation goals and zones funded by grants the cooperative has applied for and received are being built first. Ultimately we plan to provide high-speed, fiber-based internet service access to all of our members.
5:00PM February 05, 2020
Sarah Williams Admin
Ken, the eligibility of areas in which we can utilize ReConnect loan funds comes from information that was provided from FCC map data. As the rules for the program were written, very limited access means areas that have connection speeds that are less than 10Mbps down and 1Mbps up. The areas are grouped according to US Census Blocks, which differ in both size and location. Gibson will use ReConnect loan funds to build the fiber network in eligible parts of the Troy zone, and we will build the other areas of the zone at the same time using other funding. In short, the Troy Zone will be constructed as one large project using multiple funding sources.
9:14PM February 03, 2020
Ken Morris Admin
Thank you for the information Rita. I am in the Troy zone and I am not sure what "very limited access" requirements consist of, but in my area there is NO wired or cable internet access available. We do not even have access to DSL. I was curious if there is any indication of what areas of the Troy Zone would be included in the target area of this program.