Spectrum brings critical internet service to rural Kentucky

Editor’s Note: Spectrum Internet is affiliated with Charter Communications, the parent company of Spectrum News 1.

LEXINGTON, Ky. — A milestone for the residents of Berry, Kentucky as Charter Communications announced a franchise agreement with the small town. It becomes the 10,000th local community served across Spectrum’s 41-state footprint.

Berry has never had access to high-speed internet broadband service. The agreement will bring critical infrastructure to the Harrison County community.

“Every community in Kentucky deserves affordable and reliable high-speed internet access,” Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky., said. “That’s why my administration has secured more than $2 billion in state, federal and private funding to connect every home and business in the commonwealth.”

The announcement in Berry is part of a larger deployment in Harrison County connecting over 3,700 homes and small businesses. The project cost is $37 million and Charter is contributing approximately $14 million and the rest will be supplied from the Commonwealth’s Better Internet Program and funds received by the county through its federal American Rescue Plan Act funds.

Charter expects construction to begin the design process this summer. Once necessary permits and utility pole attachment agreements are secured, construction can begin. The project is expected to be done by the end of 2025.

Adam Falk, Senior Vice President of State Government Affairs at Charter said, “The local partnerships have always made us unique, allowing us to better understand the community and the needs of our customers and employees who live within them,” he added. “As we work to bridge the digital divide, no town is too small. When we complete this project, Berry customers will have access to the same state-of-the art services offered in the biggest cities we serve, from New York to Dallas to Los Angeles.”

Berry Mayor Keith Ison said. “And the generous contribution by Spectrum and its partners will go a long way to revitalize our town park.” Through its rural expansion initiative, Charter has already begun, and expects to continue over the next several years, to connect more than 1.75 million unserved and underserved homes and small businesses across the country, reaching thousands of new communities.

Berry also learned about an additional $70,000 investments in the community. Ovation TV and Spectrum are providing $50,000 to go toward the renovation of the City of Berry Park.

Harrison County High School is getting a $10,000 grant from Spectrum and AXS TV through its Band Together for Music Education project. The money will support music education programs, including the Harrison County Marching Band.

A $10,000 Spectrum Digital Education grant will go toward the creation of a digital learning center at Berry’s Data Center when the network buildout is complete.