News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Ben Lomand will soon begin work on expanding internet access in Cumberland County after a $24 million grant.
CEO Greg Smartt said the contract for the work had not been let out just yet, but the Department of Economic and Community Development wants the project completed within the next 24 to 36 months. He said the work will cover some 291 square miles of customers in the north half of the county.
“When you start getting into the rural areas you start getting into that last mile and the last mile is really what costs so much,” Smartt said. “Because you’ve got to bring it from Point A to Point B. So these grants are structured for the unserved area.”
Smartt said the plans are currently in the design phase with engineers. He said Ben Lomand is also in the process of contacting landowners in the area to figure out locations for remote switches that will bring the broadband to that area.
Smartt said once the company gets those areas set and engineers finish plans, they’ll turn the plans over to the construction team. He said they’re still waiting on the ECD to put that contract out, after which the company will have 36 months to complete the projcet.
“Our number one goal is to get broadband out to everyone, to have access to broadband to the underserved communities,” Smartt said. “We have a building out there we have an office that is fully staffed and we’re looking to hire more.”
