The Kansas Office of Broadband Development awarded $3.9 million to Ideatek to fund building 150 miles of fiber-optic lines to serve 450 residents and businesses in eastern Harvey County. Harvey County, in turn, will pay up $250,000 for the project. In a release, Ideatek stated the total cost of the project to be $5 million. “This grant really helps us hit that business case that we need to bring fiber optic out to these rural areas,” James Krstolich, community and public relations manager for Ideatek, said. “The whole point of these grants is they help us get to these residents that wouldn’t be served any other way.” County Commissioner Randy Hague stated in the release by Ideatek that the expansion will provide improved access to information and services for residents and businesses alike. “These grant funds will deliver meaningful service in their everyday lives,” he said. “We appreciate Ideatek and the Kansas Department of Commerce for collaborating on this opportunity to benefit our citizens.” According to the release, the project will begin in 2024 and will be completed in phases. The work would connect into the City of Walton.
Source: Harvey County Now
