$736K Investment Will Support an Additional 8 Miles of Buried Fiber-Optic Cables, Serving 72 Locations
MAYFIELD, Kentucky — West Kentucky & Tennessee Telecommunications is the recipient of a grant to serve the Southwest Marshall County, Kentucky service area under the USDA Community Connect Grant administered by the Rural Utilities Service (RUS). The grant will enable the cooperative to expand its network and continue to bring high-speed internet to additional underserved and unserved areas of Marshall County.
The grant will cover 85% of the $736,569 project, with WK&T and Marshall County partnering to fund the remaining 15%.
The project will deliver speeds of up to 2 gigs symmetrical in rural areas of Marshall County and involves construction of 8 miles of buried fiber optic cables. When completed, at least 72 locations without access to qualified broadband will be able to connect to high-speed fiber service. The project area includes the Brewers area of Hardin North of Highway 402.
WK&T CEO Trevor Bonnstetter commented on the potential impact of the project, saying, “This grant enables us to bring state-of-the-art technology to homes and businesses in Marshall County that have been out of reach. We are thrilled to offer a service that will enhance quality of life, education, business opportunities, and overall connectivity for our members. It’s about bringing the best technology to rural Kentucky, and we’re proud to lead that charge.”
Marshall County Judge Executive Kevin Spraggs commented on the significance of the expansion: “This project marks a major step forward in addressing the digital divide in our community. Reliable, high-speed internet is not just beneficial — it’s essential for the economic and educational growth of Marshall County. Access to this technology will provide new opportunities for our residents, from improved access to telehealth to enabling local businesses to compete on a larger scale.”
WK&T was one of 57 applications selected after a strict and highly competitive grant process. To learn more about WK&T and receive fiber build updates, visit mywkt.net.
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WK&T is a communications cooperative serving West Kentucky, Northwest Tennessee, and southern Illinois with more than 23,000 network connections. The company is an equal opportunity employer and provider dedicated to using technology to keep its members connected through high-speed internet, state-of-the- art security, local and long-distance voice service and digital television, while promoting equal access to advanced technology in rural communities.