What are the Best Places to Work in Kentucky?

By Hayley Harmon/WBKO-TV:

One Bowling Green business just grabbed a coveted award, earning itself a spot on the list of "Best Places to Work in Kentucky." Connected Nation, located on College Street downtown, is a non-profit organization whose mission is to get broadband Internet to rural regions.



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Aspects of FCC's plan for broadband could have serious consequences for our recovering economy

By Carl Gipson, director for small business, technology and telecommunications at the Washington Policy Center The Hill’s Congress Blog

With our nation’s unemployment rate stuck stubbornly near the double-digit mark, policymakers nationwide continue to look for ways to spur economic growth in the private sector – preferably without deepening the federal deficit. One area where federal and state officials agree is that of expanding broadband Internet to underserved and unserved areas, which was a large part of the National Broadband Plan presented by the Federal Communications Commission to Congress on March 16th. It is widely understood that boosting the nation’s broadband infrastructure would bring untold economic and social benefits.

Read more at the Hill's Congress blog about the economic impact of the FCC's broadband plan

Ky. gets funds for high-speed access to Web

By Jenna Mink/The Daily News (Bowling Green, KY)

Connected Nation targets communities that lack efficient service and works to get better access

These days, Teresa Perkins gets calls from people as far away as Florida, who want to purchase something from her Franklin gift shop - thanks to the World Wide Web.

Kentucky recently received $2.1 million in federal stimulus funds to help bring high-speed Internet to more people. The money will be used to collect data on areas that lack broadband Internet and help improve those services. Those efforts could, in turn, impact local economies and the livelihood of residents, experts say.

Learn more about ConnectKentucky and Connected Nation

Kentucky broadband effort a national model

by Tom Eblen/The Lexington Herald-Leader

A century ago, farm-to-market roads were the new infrastructure Kentucky needed to move its economy forward. A half-century ago, it was interstates and parkways.

Now, it’s the information superhighway.

Link to article here.

Coming soon: more broadband for rural America

The Legal Ruralism

Vice President Joe Biden was just in Dawsonville, GA, a small rural town (pop. 619), to announce eighteen projects that will receive $183 million in federal funding (collectively) to bring high speed Internet service to rural places. Biden spoke at Impulse Manufacturing, a metalworks plant in north Georgia whose business has been stunted by the lack of a broadband network in that part of the state.

Link to blog post

Biden to unveil broadband expansion projects to boost jobs

by Patrik Jonsson/Christian Science Monitor

In the late 1920s, the Republicans crowed about how their policies had put a “chicken in every pot.”

The White House this week is dispatching Vice President Biden to southern Appalachia – the historic backdrop for economic hardship – to update that slogan to “a broadband connection in every home.”

Link to Article

State Awarded $2 Million Grant

by Matthew Clark/Pittsburg Morning-Sun

PITTSBURG — It has been compared to the rural electrification from the early 1900s and state officials feel that its impact will be just as significant.

This week, Kansas was awarded $2 million in a federal grant as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which is part of a larger, $7 billion that have been set aside to invest in infrastructure of rural broadband Internet.

Link to Article here.

Editorial: Using Technology

By The Capital-Journal Editorial Board/Topeka Capital Journal

Those of us who have become spoiled by ready access to the Internet and all that it offers, in the work place and home, generally assume that the marvels at our fingertips are available to everyone, until we are reminded that it just isn't so.

Link to editorial here.

Q&A with Brian Meffford, CEO, Connected Nation

From Wireless Government Report:

This Q&A is part of a series of about a ½ dozen interview held with organizations that are collaborating with Intel in securing Broadband Stimulus Sustainable Broadband Adoption program funding for a National PC/Broadband Bundle initiative to deliver deeply discounted PCs and broadband service to underserved and un-served populations and communities.

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State to map its broadband access

By John Milburn/Associated Press via the Wichita Eagle

TOPEKA — Kansas will use a new federal grant to identify gaps in access to broadband services and build the infrastructure for economic recovery, the lieutenant governor said Monday.

Link to article here.

Kansas receives $2 million in federal stimulus funds to expand access to Internet in rural areas

By Scott Rothschild/Lawrence Journal-World

Topeka — Kansas has received a $2 million federal grant that officials say will help provide access to high-speed Internet service throughout the state.

Link to article here.

State to map coverage gaps with aim of expanding broadband access in rural Kansas

By The Associated Press/WDAV-TV

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas officials say they will soon begin mapping the state to determine where there are gaps in access to broadband services.

Link to article here.

Kansas gets $2M for broadband initiative

by Daniel McCoy/Wichita Business Journal

Kansas has received a $2 million federal grant to help map the state’s existing broadband network. It’s an important step, officials say, in bringing broadband Internet service to rural areas throughout the state.

Link to story here.

Stimulus funds to boost Kan. broadband

By Scott Rothschild/KTKA-TV

Topeka — Kansas has received a $2 million federal grant that officials said Monday will help provide access to high-speed Internet service throughout the state. Lt. Gov. Troy Findley said the grant will help the state’s economic recovery, especially in rural areas.

Link to entire news story here.

Kansas gets $2M from stimulus to expand rural broadband

From the Kansas City Business Journal:

Kansas has been awarded a $2 million federal grant to spread high-speed Internet access throughout rural Kansas. The grant for the new Connect Kansas program comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and will pay to map out the state’s current broadband infrastructure, the Kansas Department of Commerce said in a Monday release. That information would help in planning, aiding businesses, consumers and policymakers involved with Connect Kansas.

Link to entire article here.

Kansas to use stimulus funds to boost broadband

By John Milburn/The Associated Press via the Washington Post

TOPEKA, Kan. -- Kansas will use a new federal grant to identify gaps in access to broadband services and build the infrastructure for economic recovery, the lieutenant governor said Monday.

View entire article here.

Connected Nation, Kansas FB help rural residents connect

December 7, 2009

Farm Bureau News

“What we do on the Internet is very limited because of the time it takes to download on dial-up. It’s not unusual at all for farm families trying to do business online to load up their work at bedtime and hope for the best by the time they get up in the morning.” • Brenda Dooley, Jewell County, Kansas

Many rural Americans like Brenda are struggling to participate in the new global economy but are being left behind in the digital revolution.

Fortunately, Kansas Farm Bureau and Connected Nation have applied for $9 million in federal stimulus funds to overcome the barriers to broadband adoption and promote broadband use across the state of Kansas. The goal is for all Kansas citizens to have access to broadband at an affordable rate so they can access this technology to improve their personal and professional lives.

View a PDF for the article here.

Intel, Dell, Lenovo Part of Broadband Accessibility Initiative

by Jeffrey Burt/eWeek.com

A number of technology providers, including Intel, Dell, Lenovo and Fujitsu, are part of an initiative spearheaded by Connected Nation to expand access to broadband to underserved areas such as rural regions and inner cities. The Every Citizen Online program is seeking $24 million in federal economic stimulus money to bring 150,000 low-cost PCs bundled with discounted broadband service to low-income families in 20 states and Puerto Rico.

Link to article

Malaysia seeks Kentucky expertise to wire nation

by Erik A. Carlson/Business Lexington

Lexington, KY - After being lauded as a model for the United States in President Barack Obama's stimulus plan, the head of the program that has given 95 percent of Kentuckians access to high speed Internet has been asked to advise Malaysian Prime Minister Dato' Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak.

View story the here.

International Advisory Panel Meeting To Enhance MSC Malaysia's Role

By Leslean Arshad/Bernama.com

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 6 (Bernama) -- When the who's who of the information technology (IT) industry convene for two days at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre from Monday, a slew of key issues will await them to provide views on enhancing the role of MSC Malaysia to accelerate the country's transformation into knowledge-based, innovation-led economy.

View article here.