{"version":"1.0","provider_name":"The News Journal","provider_url":"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net","title":"Lt. Gov. celebrates $50,000 grant for broadband expansion &ndash; The News Journal","type":"rich","width":600,"height":338,"html":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"MT3J5dI4Ki\"><a href=\"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net\/lt-gov-celebrates-50000-grant-for-broadband-expansion\/\">Lt. Gov. celebrates $50,000 grant for broadband expansion<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net\/lt-gov-celebrates-50000-grant-for-broadband-expansion\/embed\/#?secret=MT3J5dI4Ki\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;Lt. Gov. celebrates $50,000 grant for broadband expansion&#8221; &#8212; The News Journal\" data-secret=\"MT3J5dI4Ki\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n\/* <![CDATA[ *\/\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/* ]]> *\/\n<\/script>\n","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/4-col-SOAR-CHECK.jpg","thumbnail_width":480,"thumbnail_height":304,"description":"(Story by Jeff Ledington, Barbourville Mountain Advocate) Lt. Governor Jacqueline Coleman joined leaders from SOAR, Cumberland Valley Electric, and Congressman Hal Rogers\u2019 Office in Gray Monday afternoon to present $50,000 toward expanding rural broadband. Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR) was awarded the funds from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) through the POWER Grant; a federal program aimed at helping areas affected by the fading of the coal industry. Cumberland Valley Electric will be the first electric co-op in the state to begin working on bringing broadband to underserved areas after Gov. Andy Beshear signed House Bill 320 earlier this year. The bipartisan bill allows local providers and state-owned networks to use existing infrastructure from the co-ops. The bill also allocates $250 million dollars in matching funds for expanding rural broadband. SOAR Executive Director Colby Hall noted the importance of expanded broadband for Eastern Kentucky and the experience electric co-ops have working in those areas. Cumberland Valley Electric Director of Economic Development Rich Prewitt noted that while the co-op isn\u2019t an expert on internet, \u201cwe have the poles.\u201d Coleman struck a similar tone, stating that \u201cinternet is as important as electricity in 2021.\u201d"}