A public-private partnership between Kinetic, a Windstream company, and state and local governments in Georgia has led to the official introduction this week of a $1.9 million high-speed fiber internet expansion.
The public-private partnership in Lake Sinclair and east Baldwin County, Georgia, connects more than 700 households and businesses in the area through over 266,000 feet of high-speed fiber optic cable. Kinetic said the project illustrates the power of public-private partnerships in working to close the digital divide.
The Baldwin County project was funded through a combination of more than $920,000 from the State Fiscal Recovery Fund (SFRF) and a county match of $151,000. Kinetic also invested $817,000 of its own funds in this project.
Since the enactment of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) in 2021, Kinetic, the state of Georgia, and 25 counties have joined forces in public-private partnerships to allocate more than $354 million toward advancing broadband infrastructure across Georgia.
“This project was a success due to the support of Sen. Rick Williams, Rep. Mac Jackson, former Rep. Kenneth Vance, the Baldwin County Commissioners, County Manager Carlos Tobar, and Kinetic,” said Andrew Strickland, chairman of the Baldwin County Commission, in Kinetic’s announcement this week. “Our partnerships allow us to deliver for the people of east Baldwin County and expand our infrastructure.”
Sarah Baska, director of broadband program operations, State Broadband Office, Georgia Technology Authority, noted in part that this public-private partnership was more than just an infrastructure achievement: “It’s about connecting people, creating opportunities, and fostering innovation.”
Kinetic said the expansion will improve life for Baldwin County residents by increasing access to economic opportunities, education, and telehealth services. The infrastructure will support future growth and development in the area.
Kinetic has a $2 billion multi-year investment strategy to significantly expand multi-gigabit fiber service across the 18 states in which it operates. The public-private partnership in Baldwin County, Georgia is part of that strategy.
Public-private partnerships (PPPs) for broadband expansion can be very successful, and there are multiple approaches to forming one. A report from New York Law School’s Advanced Communications Law & Policy Institute describes seven types of PPPs, including state grant programs, local network expansion, and dark fiber/conduit lease.
