Appalachia Digital Accelerator
Buffalo Trace Area Development District
To advance connectivity in Northeastern Kentucky, the Buffalo Trace Area Development District (BTADD) participated in the Appalachia Digital Accelerator and developed comprehensive connectivity plans for Lewis County and Robertson County. These plans highlight opportunities for improved broadband access and digital equity. Community input and collaboration with local stakeholders and local leaders were crucial to the process, ensuring the plans reflect the specific needs and priorities of the counties’ residents. The plans include actionable strategies that address each county’s unique connectivity challenges and positions them to secure federal, state, and local funding opportunities.
Lewis & Robertson Counties – Connectivity Plans
Residents in Lewis and Robertson Counties need reliable broadband to shop online, connect with loved ones, pursue education, access telehealth, and seize new work and business opportunities. By advancing the recommendations in these plans, county leadership can drive economic growth, strengthen resilience, and position both counties to thrive in the decades ahead.
Lewis County
The Lewis County Connectivity Plan aims to improve broadband access and affordability in one of Kentucky’s largest rural counties. It focuses on partnering with ISPs to extend infrastructure to unserved areas, benefiting residents, businesses, and anchor institutions, while implementing programs to boost digital literacy and device access.
As we strive to build an even stronger community, the Lewis County Connectivity Plan will assist broadband expansion and digital equity efforts that are crucial to a more resilient future.
George Sparks
Lewis County Judge Executive
Robertson County
The Robertson County Connectivity Plan seeks to address significant broadband gaps in Kentucky’s smallest county. It identifies potential opportunities for infrastructure expansion, outlines strategic initiatives to promote digital adoption, and capitalizes on community resources that can assist in closing the digital divide.
It is important for all residents to have access to high-speed internet options, regardless of where they live. The Robertson County Connectivity Plan will assist us in achieving this goal.
Valerie Grigson Miley
Robertson County Judge Executive
Locations in Robertson County are unserved – highlighting the urgent need for infrastructure expansion.
Lewis County households are low income – highlighting the need for affordable internet service and internet-accessible devices.
Population in both counties are rural – highlighting the unique broadband challenges present in both counties.
Investing in broadband will unlock many opportunities including telehealth, online education, and remote work opportunities.
These plans are the result of community collaboration and highlight the areas of needed connectivity throughout the planning areas. Broadband connectivity is essential for the success of everyone in each of our communities. These plans provide paths forward to make connectivity possible for our region.
When the pandemic hit, there was a real urgency for communities to prioritize digital infrastructure. Although the ADD had already been working with communities on broadband, COVID caused us to change gears. Not just with broadband, but with many things. The ADD lacked the ability in the midst of this change, to really hit the pause button so we could put needed focus on broadband planning specifically. Support from Connect Humanity and SOAR enabled us to dedicate staff time and resources to really dig deep with community partners on planning efforts.
Each plan is comprehensive, ambitious, and forward-thinking—the product of years of strategic planning and collaborative efforts to improve connectivity. The information contained within is crucial to Lewis County and Robertson County achieving their unique broadband and digital equity goals.
Sierra O’Cull works in the planning and development department of Buffalo Trace Area Development District. In collaboration with local officials, O’Cull led the project efforts and authored both plans. Her oversight was instrumental in the formation of the plans, which are distinctive given the broadband landscape at the time of the project’s completion.
What’s Next
Investments in broadband infrastructure are essential for both communities to have countywide broadband access and digital equity. BTADD will work alongside Lewis and Robertson Counties to identify and pursue funding opportunities.
A project in partnership with the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), which contributed $6.3 million (80% of the total project cost).
