Caldwell County Fiscal Court magistrates unanimously approved an internet contract with Pennyrile Electric during Tuesday morning’s meeting.
Judge-Executive Larry Curling says the Internet contract with Pennyrile Electric is a good way to use the county’s ARPA funds to provide fiber Internet to the southern portion of Caldwell.
click to download audioHe adds they are continuing to talk with another group to run fiber in the rest of the county, but Curling said right now they need to move forward with the Pennyrile Electric contract.
District 2 Magistrate Jeff Boone says he spent some time with Amanda Davenport, the executive director of the Lake Barkley Partnership for Economic Development, as well as Alan Gates at Pennyrile Electric and he feels good about the agreement.
click to download audioAs previously reported, the county was in discussions with Kenergy to provide Internet service to the northern portion of the county through a partnership with Connexon. However, Judge Curling said a for-profit company has filed a motion to prevent co-ops from providing fiber Internet.
click to download audioBoone said the reason Pennyrile Electric can move forward is that the utility is not under the Public Service Commission.
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Judge Curling says he’s excited about being able to provide fiber internet to the rural areas in the county with Boone adding that it’s needed just as much in those areas as it is in the city.
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District 4 Magistrate Jeff Simms says this is going to be of great value to the county’s residents and it’s exciting for the future.
click to download audioDistrict 1 Magistrate Elbert Bennett personally thanked Amanda Davenport for the work she does and says she is an asset for Caldwell and the other counties served by Lake Barkley Partnership for Economic Development.
As previously reported by the News Edge, Davenport said it would take Pennyrile Electric approximately one year to build out the backbone for the Internet in southern Caldwell County with the utility to own the fiber line and telephone poles, while Hopkinsville Electric will provide the Internet service and customer service.
