Williams Files SB 64 to Ensure Reliable Internet Service to Students, Teachers, Rural Residents
Sen. Gex Williams, R-Verona and co-chair of the statutory Information Technology Oversight Committee, filed legislation Monday to ensure Kentucky’s broadband network better serves students, teachers, state employees, and rural broadband subscribers who depend on reliable internet access.
Senate Bill (SB) 64 places the Commonwealth Office of Technology (COT), Kentucky’s lead technology agency, in charge of managing the Kentucky Communications Network Authority (KCNA) and overseeing the Kentucky Wired broadband network. The bill eliminates the KCNA executive director position and transfers all personnel, contracts and responsibilities to COT.
“We need to be customer-focused and prioritize users,” said Williams. “This bill puts the technical experts in charge, people who already manage the systems that serve Kentucky every day.”
SB 64 designates the Kentucky Department of Education’s (KDE) chief information officer as the board chair, reflecting the network’s critical role in serving K–12 schools. KDE’s Kentucky Educational Technology System accounts for 80 percent of Kentucky Wired traffic.
It also adds constitutional officers to the KCNA board.
Williams filed the bill in response to serious gaps revealed during recent oversight hearings. He noted that KCNA officials failed to provide purchase records, equipment inventories or refresh timelines, despite repeated legislative requests. COT already handles connectivity, cybersecurity, enterprise architecture and data privacy for most executive agencies. Williams said consolidating broadband oversight under COT will strengthen accountability and improve service delivery.
“This bill course-corrects Kentucky Wired and puts the right people, not vendors or lawyers, in charge of its future,” Williams said. “Our focus belongs on rural users, students, teachers and state employees, not on broken processes.”
Key provisions of SB 64 include
• eliminating the KCNA executive director position,
• transferring all operations, personnel and responsibilities to COT,
• updating board membership to include state constitutional officers and the Education CIO as board chair,
• authorizing COT’s executive director to oversee contracts, finances and network development under board oversight, and
• declaring an emergency to make the changes effective immediately upon passage
Williams said the restructuring provides stable leadership until the completion of an independent audit of Kentucky Wired, authorized by the legislature, later this year. The legislature can then determine how to proceed, guided by audit recommendations.
KCNA recently proposed tens of millions in equipment upgrades over six years, despite testimony showing that most hardware remains within its service life. Williams said the legislature should avoid rushing into unnecessary spending before completing the audit and confirming what is actually needed.