News
A telecommunications cooperative in Kansas has broken ground on a new rural expansion project in the south-central portion of the state.
By: Brad Randall, Broadband Communities
Telecommunications cooperative Kanokla has multiple reasons to celebrate this month.
At a recent groundbreaking, the cooperative marked the beginning of their $2.6 million project south of Wellington. Kanokla also celebrated connecting their first fiber customers in their newly expanded network west of Bluff City and Freeport.
Kanokla is described as a member-owned telecommunications cooperative serving South Central Kansas and North Central Oklahoma with high-speed fiber broadband, a summary of Kanokla’s operations stated.
Highlighting the launch of Kanokla’s completed network west of Bluff City and Freeport, Kanokla held a ribbon cutting at the first home they connected: the home of the Wolff family.
“The Wolff family had previously been connected through Kanokla’s fixed-wireless network until they experienced a devastating home fire last year,” Kanokla’s release stated. “Now, in their new home, Gerald and Pat Wolff have been connected as Kanokla’s first fiber customers in this expanded network.”
According to Kanokla, that project was made possible by the Kansas Office of Broadband Development’s LINC Program, with a $1.7 million grant that expanded connectivity to approximately 70 area homes, farms, and businesses.
Meanwhile, the project south of Wellington, extended fiber service 148 locations with $950,000 from the Broadband Acceleration Grant Program.
Kanokla invested $1.7 million of their own funds into the project, the company’s release stated.
“These expansions are about much more than faster internet—they represent Kanokla’s commitment to building a more connected and resilient rural Kansas,” said Jill Kuehny, the CEO of Kanokla. “We’re deeply grateful to the Kansas Office of Broadband Development for their belief in our vision and are excited to see the ways these projects will enhance lives and businesses in our communities.”
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