About KYRBA
The Kentucky Telephone Association was established in 1937 as a non-profit organization to promote and support the general interests and welfare of the telecommunications industry in the Commonwealth. This is still our goal.
The industry has undergone enormous changes and growth since the Kentucky Telephone Association was established. Advancements in technology, including the growth of computer applications and fiber cable, expanding service areas, increasingly complex regulatory requirements and competitive services has fueled many of these changes. Throughout this time, our association has served the industry by fostering communication and cooperation among its member companies to improve their services and products.
In 2011, we changed our name from the Kentucky Telephone Association to the Kentucky Telecom Association and adopted a new logo to recognize our members offer more than wireline telephone service and the many changes in our industry in the recent past. Now, in 2023, we have once again adopted a new name and logo to reflect our members focus on delivering world class fiber broadband to rural Kentuckians. The Kentucky Rural Broadband Association remains focused on expanding broadband access and broadband deployment to some of the most rural, high-cost areas of the Commonwealth. By growing broadband deployment and adoption, and closing the digital divide, we will grow opportunities for all Kentuckians.
News Feed
KYRBA Members Receive $36.5 Million in State Broadband Grant Funding
KYRBA Summer Manager's Meeting Concludes
The KYRBA Summer Managers Meeting is in the books! Members enjoyed a group luncheon and outing at TopGolf Louisville followed by our rural broadband industry policy roundtable at the Seelbach Hilton Louisville. Our community-based broadband providers heard a legislative preview from House Majority Whip, Rep. Jason Nemes. Members also received a regulatory update from the KY Public Service Commission as well as an update on our association benefit programs from NTCA’s Member Relations Manager, Jeff Yarbrough. It was a very informative two days in Louisville.
KYRBA/TNBA Fall Conference Online Registration Now Available
The 2023 KYRBA Fall Conference & Supplier Showcase is scheduled for October 10-12 at the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs in Franklin, TN. Online registration is now available for Kentucky and Tennessee telco and associate members!
You can register using this link: https://kyrba.regfox.com/kyrbatnba-fall-conference
The conference registration rate is $309/person for a member and $459/person for a non-member. Vendors may also purchase a tabletop for the Supplier Showcase for $250/member rate and $450/non-member rate. One person must register for the entire conference for each company that purchases a tabletop. Additional vendor employees may purchase a Showcase-Only registration for $125/person. Attendees only wishing to attend the Supplier Showcase on Thursday morning may purchase a Showcase-Only registration for $125/person. Individuals participating in golf may register online for $185/person. We will also offer an afternoon corn hole toss tournament for individuals that do not wish to play golf, but would like to participate in afternoon events at Towhee Golf Club. You may register for the corn hole toss tournament at $40/person.
There are numerous sponsorship opportunities available for telco and vendor members that wish to support the fall conference. We appreciate the support of our rural broadband industry partners! Please see the registration page for sponsorship opportunities and details.
NCTC Celebrates a Complete Fiber Network
Many internet service providers (national providers included) would love to claim an all-fiber network. NCTC has done something few have done—it has become a 100% fiber network.
In 2007, NCTC was one of the first rural telecommunication cooperatives in the United States to begin the construction of a fiber-optic network. The board of directors and management had a vision to lead NCTC to the future with technology that even large companies and big cities dreamed of providing.
Fast forward to 2023, and NCTC has completed fiber construction and deployment to 100% of its members. This is something few companies—small or large—can claim. President and CEO Johnny McClanahan addressed his staff, board members, and retirees at a recent luncheon, “There may be another technology in future years, but as of today, fiber provides the best network available for fiber services.” With broadband speeds up to 1 Gigabit per second, NCTC has plans to begin offering “multi-Gig” services later this year to high-usage consumers. An all-fiber network allows for these faster speeds to be provided.
Sixteen years sounds like a long time to work on a project, but providing the kind of network NCTC offers is neither cheap nor easy. “Without funding and support from the USDA Rural Utilities Service through various loans and grants, we would not have been able to build the network we have today,” said McClanahan. Work began in 2007 in the Winklers Community on the Clay/Macon County line and completed construction earlier this year in the city of Scottsville, Kentucky. McClanahan added, “We have deployed over 4,300 miles of fiber and electronics to our exchanges, but the construction was definitely worth our time and investment.”
Through dedicated leadership not only in the beginning of this build-out process, but also under the current administration, NCTC is a frontrunner in the deployment of fiber in rural America. In fact, NCTC’s experience and leadership in this industry is one reason why Warren Rural Electric Cooperative Corporation (Warren RECC) reached out to NCTC for help providing high speed internet to their members in unserved areas of Kentucky.
As a member of this community, NCTC is committed to providing its members with the most advanced services available anywhere. The cooperative’s goal is not just to be good enough for a rural area, but to be the best for any area. This part of the country is an amazing place to work and live, and NCTC’s all-fiber network is definitely something to celebrate!
KYRBA Members Awarded ReConnect Funding
Duo Broadband will use this ReConnect grant investment to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to provide high-speed internet that will benefit 897 people, eight businesses and 121 farms in Cumberland County.
PRTC will use this Reconnect grant/loan combo to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to provide high-speed internet that will benefit 2,462 people, 32 businesses and 72 farms in Breathitt and Lee Counties.
Proud of the work of our community-based rural broadband providers as they seek to expand broadband access and close the digital divide in Kentucky!
Read more about the Program here:
https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2023/06/12/biden-harris-administration-announces-over-700-million-connect?fbclid=IwAR0Cjn0b_lzOHUwAe_kKBFIjaMZXAPwdBGpstOfPZHAktdgX9KWdPEM1y54
Last week marked the 86th annual meeting of Kentucky's community-based rural telecom providers. This year's meeting marked the largest crowd to ever attend the event as the association welcomed 235 attendees to Lexington, KY.
Shirley Bloomfield, CEO of NTCA, addressing KYRBA Annual Meeting attendees.
Rebranded as the Kentucky Rural Broadband Association, Kentucky's rural broadband providers kicked off their general session hearing a federal broadband update from NTCA-The Rural Broadband Association's CEO, Shirley Bloomfield. It started a day full of informative sessions as Kentucky's rural broadband industry leaders heard from experts on broadband technology solutions to improve the customer experience, updating and future-proofing their fiber networks, benchmarking metrics for broadband networks, training a new generation of employees, the latest in Wi-Fi experience for customers, as well as offering software solutions to help protect children from cyber bullying on social media networks.
John Hicks, Executive Cabinet Secretary and State Budget Director, giving an update on the Better Internet Grant Program.
New Board of Directors Elected at the 2023 Annual Meeting
With Mark Patterson receiving his presidential gavel in honor of his service as Board President, Jeff Eaton of SCRTC has now been elcted to fill the role.
KYRBA Executive Director, Tyler Campbell presenting Mark Patterson (GM/CEO of Highland Telephone Cooperative) with his president's gavel to recognize his service as KYRBA Board President.
See the full list here:
https://kyrba.org/content.asp?contentid=138
Better Internet Grant Program Challenge Process Ongoing
According to the Kentucky Office of Broadband Development, 103 applications were received from 19 broadband providers in 77 counties. More than $483 million in broadband funds were requested from the second round applications, which included 99 fiber-to-the-home projects as well as 4 combined fiber-to-the-home and cable projects.
Grant applications are currently in the challenge phase as broadband providers are able to submit challenges to areas they already deemed served. The Kentucky Office of Broadband Development will make the final determinations on area elgibility and will inform providers whether their challenges were accepted or rejected. Grant applicants will also receive the opportunity to amend their applications for locations deemed served or they may withdraw their applications. Final determinations should be made soon from the Kentucky Office of Broadband Development with award announcements being made sometime in July.
.jpg)
.jpg)
