Union County, Ga., breaks ground on $20.5 million fiber broadband expansion project
(UI) – State and local officials joined with fiber-broadband provider Kinetic to break ground on a new, state-of-the-art fiber network that will provide ultrafast internet to more than 7,300 customer locations in Union County. This is in addition to some 8,400 county locations Kinetic already made “gig ready.”
Kinetic will lay about 550 miles of fiber optic cable in the expansion project to bring high-speed internet to residences, businesses and schools.
When completed next year, the $20.5 million expansion project will make more than 7,300 homes, businesses and schools in Blairsville, Suches and nearby unserved and underserved areas eligible for high-speed fiber internet for the first time.
These homes, combined with the 8,400 other locations Kinetic already made “gig ready,” add up to more than 15,700 locations in the county eligible for Kinetic’s fiber broadband.
The expansion project is a result of a public–private partnership between the county and Kinetic. Union County will use about $11.2 million in state grant money from the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds program, part of the federal American Rescue Plan. The county has also committed an additional $500,000 in matching funds. Kinetic will invest $8.9 million and cover any cost overruns.
The broadband provider covered the entire project cost when making the earlier 8,400 locations gig ready.
Kinetic’s Union County fiber project is part of a $2 billion multiyear capital investment strategy by Kinetic to dramatically expand gigabit fiber service across the company’s 18-state footprint.
At the event, state Senate Majority Leader Steve Gooch, R-District 51, said, “I am proud to have been a sponsor and supporter of broadband deployment legislative and funding initiatives at the state capitol, and am thrilled this world-class telecommunications upgrade will benefit communities across Union County.”
“High-speed internet allows folks in this beautiful area to stay connected with school, healthcare services and family, not to mention business, and is critical to the success of our region’s economy and to future job creation,” he said.
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