Since 2021, Trigg Countians have patiently been waiting for the highly-anticipated Pennyrile Rural Electric and Hopkinsville Electric System fiber internet buildout — many of its residents wondering when connector poles will meet homes.
During Monday night’s Trigg County Fiscal Court meeting, PRECC President & CEO Alan Gates stopped in for a considerable update, delivering both good and bad news around the project — one that’s been made possible through local, state and federal commitments.
The good news? Gates said Trigg County is now 50% served, with Cadiz and several ancillary, heavily populated locations streaming data like they never have before, and more families are on the precipice of the nation’s fastest option.
The bad news? Gates noted Trigg County has been an extremely challenging project for a multitude of reasons, including:
— Its torpor of being partially connected and partially disconnected due to its cell phone capabilities, previously limiting funding options during initial tranches of ARPA cash through the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority;
— Its general topography and less concentrated population, making costs a bit more prohibitive;
— And, thus, a dire need for more than $6 million to finish the remaining half of the county’s fiber structure.
Gates did note that Kentucky’s upcoming Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment — or BEAD — program would have less restrictions on cell phone and wireless access, and that monies should be available sooner rather than later.
However, there’s still a delay, and Gates said the demand for high-speed access is as high as it’s ever been.
Gates also mentioned that Trigg County’s fiscal court has been more than forward, prepared and bought in with its initial $2 million promise to the project. At present, more than $1 million remains in cash reserves for PRECC billing, and Phase 3 is currently underway — with new signups available by December of this year, or Spring 2025.
After that, more than 400 miles of fiber needs to be either made ready for connection, or built altogether, in order to bring Trigg County under full coverage.
This round of BEAD funding went through challenges between May and June, and all rebuttals were heard from mid-June to mid-July. From there, Gates said BEAD eligible locations will be notified as early as this fall, with the pre-application process currently unlocked now until September 13.
From there, Trigg, PRECC and HES officials should then be able to turn in applications in the first quarter of 2025.
Gates also confirmed that there has yet to be a fully signed agreement to come from the Kentucky Legislature following Governor Andy Beshear’s first broadband announcement in the region. Still, several efforts are in progress, including the improvement of Lake Barkley State Resort Park’s connectivity.
For more information about high-speed internet’s arrival to Trigg County, one can visit https://hop-electric.com, and sign up for notifications about the build in their area.
