Residents and businesses in Eureka will soon have access to highspeed, reliable fiber-optic internet thanks to a grant awarded to IdeaTek Telcom, who was one of eight internet service providers (ISPs) in the latest round of the Broadband Acceleration Grants. The grant awarded $5 million to those ISPs which will be paired with an additional $6.6 million in matching funds, resulting in an investment of nearly $12 million for high-speed broadband access projects across 10 rural Kansas counties.
The City of Eureka has been working with IdeaTek, a company based out of Buhler, to bring fiber to the Eureka community. “It’s vital for the next generation,” stated Mayor Stephen Coulter. “So many want to work from their homes and this is the direction the world is going. The speed will be so much faster and can benefit current and new residents in our communities; all while offering a service like those in bigger communities,” he continued. He concluded by noting, “By having fiber as an option, we can potentially bring more people to our community. People could work from their homes here and benefit from the peacefulness of small town living. This service will be cost effective to our residents and overall a huge benefit.” This investment will connect nearly 1,500 locations in Eureka and help bridge the digital divide that impacts the area.
Knowing how vital highspeed and reliable internet is to the community, Eureka Public Library Director Connie Mitchell pledged $25,000 to IdeaTek’s grant application. Fiber internet is essential for the modern library, which is why Mitchell and her board supported IdeaTek’s grant application. “We are thrilled that our community has been chosen to receive this grant, and we are looking forward to working with IdeaTek as fiber comes to Eureka,” Mitchell said.
“Knowing that we will finally have fast and reliable internet for everyday library operations and to serve the information needs of our library patrons is a huge relief. We are also excited to think about future services that may be possible with fiber. We can’t wait for the project to get started.” When talking about using funds for library upgrades for this project, Mitchell said, “One purpose of our library is to make the lives of our residents easier. This is a way it can be done. Better internet would be an upgrade for us all, it will serve the entire community, not just those who walk through our doors.”
The Broadband Acceleration Grant, which began in 2020, is a 10-year $85 million program designed to bring essential internet access to Kansas communities. “High-quality broadband is a necessity, and connectivity will enhance lives and open new doors of opportunity for Kansans,” Lieutenant Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland said. “Broadband infrastructure can propel our communities forward and support sustainable, scalable technology that will expand digital opportunities in remote work, online education and precision agriculture, among many other advantages.”
The grant funding for Eureka, coupled with IdeaTek’s substantial matching investment of nearly $1.9 million, will bring the project total to $2.8 million. IdeaTek also received funding to build fiber to western Scott County, including the small unincorporated city of Modoc.
IdeaTek will begin the project of bringing fiber to Eureka in 2024 and will be completed in phases. Crews will start building fiber in the first quarter with plans of finishing the project within the year. Plans range from Basic at $49.95 to 2.5 Gigabit at $139.95 per month; with the most popular option being $89.95 per month. Unlimited data is offered for all plans with no contract being required or an equipment lease fee. The various levels of service range from 100 Mbps to 2,500 Mbps upload and download speeds. Those interested in signing up for service through IdeaTek are recommended to visit hookmeup.ideatek.com to sign-up. Once signed up, recipients will begin receiving emails about the construction process and when the area is live. For more information or for those businesses wishing for more information visit https://ideatek.com/ or call 620-543-5555.
The 2023 Broadband Acceleration Grant recipients are listed below.
