Lawrence County Cuts Costs, Boosts Internet Speeds with Local Providers

Lawrence County Executive David Morgan is highlighting the benefits of using local services following the County Commission’s approval of the 2025–26 budget on Monday, June 30. The new fiscal year began with a strong financial outlook, including a healthy fund balance and an on-time budget passage ahead of the state’s deadline.

While much of the focus in previous years has been on increased spending for public services, employee raises, and equipment upgrades, this year also brought a spotlight on cost savings—particularly in technology.

Lawrence County’s Information Technology Department, led by Steve Walker and Kyle Johnson, recently transitioned county offices from national internet providers to two local companies: Cloud 9 and Loretto Telecom. The switch has resulted in internet speeds that are 400% faster and costs that are 90% lower, according to county officials.

Reliable internet is critical to the county’s operations. A recent outage in a state-managed system used by the County Clerk and Register of Deeds brought work to a halt, underscoring the importance of dependable connectivity. Although the state system was outside the control of county IT, the incident emphasized the need for better overall infrastructure.

Cloud 9 and Loretto Telecom are actively expanding fiber access across Lawrence County, especially in areas that currently lack broadband service. Their availability has given many residents and businesses a new high-speed option, though not all county facilities are within their service areas yet. As a result, two of the county’s 18 buildings—the Veterans Service and Solid Waste offices—still rely on other providers.

Morgan credited the IT Department for helping the county save money and improve performance through the switch to local providers. He also praised their continued efforts to keep essential technology running smoothly across county departments.

The move highlights how local partnerships can yield significant benefits for taxpayers, including better service, lower costs, and reinvestment in the local economy.