The MMG award requested by sctc will accomplish two very important objectives of the program. 1) IT will bring middle-mile infrastructure to the truly unserved and underserved communities of central…

The Department of Commerce National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) awarded a $30,502,000 Middle Mile (Broadband) Grant Program (CFDA 11.033) Project Grant to Scott County Telephone Cooperative (SCTC), a non-profit telecommunications provider. The grant will fund the construction of 155 miles of new fiber optic cable to expand middle-mile infrastructure and enable last-mile broadband expansion in rural and underserved communities across a 13-county area of Central Appalachia. The project aims to improve network resiliency by creating a self-protected ring topology integrated into SCTC's existing network. This is expected to serve over 27% of the project area that currently lacks broadband access, providing affordable internet service to these unserved populations. The grant will be executed over a 4-year period, with a completion date of March 30, 2028.

Activities

Built over four years, the proposed route will be 155 miles of new fiber cable that significantly improves the existing sctc network architecture by creating 4 new rings, closes several unprotected laterals, opens dozens of unserved markets, and interconnects (via a network-to-network interface NNI) with east kentucky networks (EKN).the existing sctc network that will be leveraged is from duffield, VA, to lebanon in russell CO., VA to grundy, VA, in buchanan CO., then east to dickenson CO. And wise CO, where an interconnect with EKN in pound, virginia, will be established. The sctc network then goes south and east toward LEE CO, VA., to the second interconnect with EKN near cranks, KY. This will create the ring topography that will provide the self-healing capability. The network then continues southeast to claiborne and grainger counties TN, then northwest through hancock CO., and finally back to the sctc central office in duffield VA.the new network builds proposed for the ntia grant will be 24 miles from union CO, TN., through grainger county to create a new ring on the extreme southeast end of the sctc network. Then, 36 miles of new construction from grainger CO., TN., through hawkins CO., TN., where sctc will close one additional ring. Continuing northwest, sctc will build 33 miles of new construction to kingsport, TN., where another interconnection will be made with existing fiber, then 25 miles south to johnson city, TN., then 25 miles northeast to bristol, TN., and finally 9 miles of new construction with existing sctc fiber in washington CO., VA. In addition to this plan, 3 miles of new construction will be built to interconnect with EKN near cranks, KY.

Expected outcomes

The project is proposed through an area which is at least 27.51% unserved and where 26% of the households fall below 200% of the national poverty level. This project will serve the unserved with affordable internet.

Intended beneficiaries

The proposed project area is a 13-county area of central appalachia. The sparse population density, mountainous terrain, and high cost of constructing networks in the region make IT unlikely that there will be a market-based solution to the broadband problem without federal assistance. The area includes dickenson, LEE, russell, scott, washington, buchanan, and wise counties in far southwest virginia and grainger, hawkins, sullivan, washington, union, and hancock counties in east tennessee. Except for washington and sullivan counties in tennessee, the area is rural, low population density, and has greater poverty than either of the tennessee or virginia state averages, and substantially below the national average. According to US census 2020 data and USDA rurality values, 71.58% of this project area is rural.

Subrecipient activities

There will be no subrecipients.