Accelecom, hired to run KentuckyWired, has increased its criticism of the state body supervising the network as Kentucky’s massive statewide broadband project looks doubtful. Accelecom charged the Kentucky Communications Network Authority (KCNA) in a May 12 statement with deceiving the public and endangering vital services all over the Commonwealth.
Citing claimed commercial breaches, the sharply worded statement follows KCNA’s earlier decision this month to terminate its contract with Accelecom. Accelecom issued warnings following that action over the possibility of internet service being denied to hundreds of government offices, hospitals, and educational institutions.
Accelecom is now rebounding with a fresh story.
“The Kentucky Communications Network Authority is deceiving the public about the KentuckyWired project, which it has completely mishandled,” the company wrote in a May 12 press release. “In an attempt to conceal its gross incompetence—which has already cost the Commonwealth a fortune, with more to come—KCNA has advanced the false narrative that others, this time Accelecom, are to blame for the state of the project.”
KentuckyWired was started in 2015 with the purpose of providing high-speed internet to underserved regions by developing a 3,200-mile fiber optic backbone. Expected to link to this “middle mile,” local internet service providers (ISPs) would bring services straight to households and businesses. But the project has been beset with delays, increased prices, and logistical challenges since its inception.
Accelecom says that, far from abandoning its responsibilities, it has gone above and beyond to support KCNA—even lending the state agency “millions” to rebuild dilapidated infrastructure. The company also claims that KCNA is postponing or denying further sales, including those that have been outstanding since 2023. Currently, the company has 44 wholesale clients.
“KCNA complains publicly of the absence of wholesale customers and dark-fiber sales, yet Accelecom currently has 44 wholesale customers for dark-fiber and lit services,” the statement reads. “KCNA is denying dozens of wholesale dark-fiber sales transactions.”
Accelecom also accuses KCNA of mismanaging construction funding and sabotaging the project by handing away valuable dark fiber in exchange for building work.
“KCNA breached the Wholesaler Agreement by giving away thousands of miles of its dark-fiber network to third parties in exchange for construction services,” Accelecom said. “The dark fiber capacity given away by KCNA is many times what it expected Accelecom to sell over its entire lifetime of the contract.”
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In its prior discussion with LEO Weekly, Accelecom’s CEO Brad Kilbey underlined that the state’s intention to cancel the contract might interrupt services for more than 240 healthcare clinics, 634,000 K-12 students, 44 ISPs, and hundreds of businesses across Kentucky.
Accelecom maintains there is no technical or legal justification for service interruption presently.
The company is exhorting the people to ask state officials for KCNA to take responsibility.
As of yet, KCNA has not addressed the most recent claims. Meanwhile, stakeholders across Kentucky—including schools, hospitals, local governments, and rural ISPs—remain in limbo while the future of KentuckyWired hangs in the balance.
“Concerned citizens and business owners should make their voices heard and hold KCNA leadership to account,” Accelecom said. “It is not too late to salvage this critical infrastructure project, but it soon will be. The time to act is now.”
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This article appears in May 9-22, 2025.
