(TNS) — A measure to give the state
Department of Agriculture authority over rural broadband internet expansion was approved Tuesday by a committee of state lawmakers in
Frankfort.
House Bill 348 would set up an office in the
Department of Agriculture under the direction of the state agriculture commissioner. The new
Office of Innovation would be "the sole executive branch agency responsible for planning and coordinating broadband deployment in unserved and underserved areas of
Kentucky," the bill says.
The change, if approved, would essentially give the
Department of Agriculture control of the
Kentucky Communications Network Authority, which oversees the KentuckWired project. A 2019 investigation by the
Louisville Courier-Journal and ProPublica found KentuckyWired was both behind schedule in expanding broadband into rural
Kentucky and $100 million over budget.
The executive director of the
Communications Network Authority is currently appointed by the governor. The bill says the
Communications Network Authority could not apply for or accept any federal dollars without the written approval of the
Department of Agriculture's Office of Innovation.
Ag Commissioner
Ryan Quarles
testified the bill "focuses solely on last-mile deployment" of broadband to unserved residents of the state.
"We feel (the
Department of Agriculture) does have a natural fit when it comes to broadband deployment," Quarles said. "Our office has an intimate understanding of the needs of rural
Kentucky."
The ag department can administer broadband deployment and investment because the agency can draw on federal funds, Quarles said. Aside from the budget, a KDA priority this legislative session is "to make sure
Kentucky does not continue to tread water," he said.
KDA can handle expanding broadband "in an efficient manner," Quarles said, but some lawmakers on the
House Appropriations and Revenue Committee questioned the need to move the project to Quarles' department.
"I'm worried about the Commissioner of Agriculture's office having the expertise" to manage broadband rollout, said Rep.
Angie Hatton
, a
Whitesburg Democrat. Rep.
Kelly Flood
, a
Lexington Democrat, said moving the project to KDA, "sounds like an administrative mess."
Quarles said, "If Kentucky was making significant progress of that critical 'last mile,' this (bill) would not be needed."
Other states have created similar offices and requested federal dollars, Quarles said.
"For me, this is about leveraging federal dollars (to expand broadband) at the least cost possible," Quarles said.
KentuckWired officials were comfortable with the bill's language, he said.
The bill was approved by the committee, moving it on to the full House for consideration.
(c)2021 the Messenger-Inquirer (Owensboro, Ky.). Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
