West Kentucky and Tennessee Telecommunications Cooperative (WK&T) has selected the Calix B6 Ethernet Service Access Nodes (ESANs) and the 700GE family of optical network terminals (ONTs) for its Fiber Forward initiative across western Kentucky and Tennessee. 
This latest project means that Calix is now participating in over 55 Broadband Stimulus projects across the country with a cumulative value of over $1 billion in grants, loans and private investment. Network access equipment typically represents a small portion of the overall project budget.
The new project with WK&T will provide this rural region with infrastructure capable of delivering 1 Gbps service speeds to its subscribers. Upon completion, this deployment will be one of the nation’s largest Active Ethernet deployments, bringing advanced IPTV services, extremely fast data services, and high-quality voice services to 21,000 homes and 99 critical community institutions such as schools, libraries and public buildings across a nine-county service area. The aggregate value of the award is $124 million, making it one of the largest “last mile” Broadband Stimulus awards and the largest single award focused on wireline services.
WK&T’s award consists of a $62 million grant and a $62 million loan to be used for plant engineering, materials, labor, and other costs, including access equipment.
“Our rural region and its subscribers will now enjoy the benefits of a world class fiber network infrastructure,” said Trevor Bonnstetter, CEO of WK&T. “We are looking at this project as a strategic investment in the future of our communities, stimulating economic development and providing the residents and businesses in our service area the foundation for long-term economic growth. The combination of Calix’s broad residential and business ONT portfolio, our existing investment in the B6 ESANs, and comprehensive network management via the Calix Management System (CMS) provides us with an ideal solution, and gives us confidence that we will be delivering new opportunity to the deserving subscribers of our region.”http://www.calix.com http://www.wktelecom.coop/
