The Oklahoma Broadband Office announced major improvements to ensure rural Oklahomans have the means and ability to access high-speed internet.
While high-speed internet is easily accessible in more developed areas of Oklahoma, access to broadband may be limited in rural areas.
Mike Sanders, the office’s executive director, said the office is using $374 million in funds across Oklahoma’s 55 counties to better serve the state.
Welcome back. You know, for many of us, access to high-speed internet is something we really take for granted. Maybe we even take it for granted. But for many Oklahomans in rural parts of the state, that won’t be a reality even in 2024, but that’s changing.Joining us this morning is Mike Sanders, executive director of the State Office of Broadband. Mike, you just announced significant progress in getting all Oklahomans connected and talk to us about that.
We did Lacey. About four weeks ago in Oklahoma, we announced that the Oklahoma Governing Council announced $374 million in funding that will be distributed to 57 of the 77 counties, which is an incredible feat. We have 31 Internet service providers that will provide services. Slightly more than 110,000 Oklahomans, who live primarily in rural Oklahoma, have never had high-speed internet. This is a historic, historic day for Oklahoma,
It is so important and even true for safety reasons.people
Security, education, economic development, this is a cool tool. Entering the digital divide, closing the digital divide, this is this, this is going to be a game changer. I mean, just like the Electrification Act in the ’30s was as important as the highways or the Internet or the highway system in the ’50s. This is our moment today.we are happy to be here
we are. This is just the first phase. Talk to us about what’s next.This is
Our first phase. This is the ARPA state and local fiscal recovery funding that the Legislature set aside for us. Over the next two to three months, we will launch what is called a capital fund program, of which approximately $159 million will be used for high-speed Internet infrastructure. And then the most important thing is what we call our beats. That would require another $797.4 million to implement high-speed internet. For Oklahoma,
When it’s all said and done, we’re talking over a billion dollars. I mean, right there, you notice the importance of that. Absolutely. What is the time frame for putting things down? Where will this come alive for people in rural Oklahoma?
Well, the first phase of funding that we just released a few weeks ago, they not only have to be built within two years, but they have to be operational. So every federal grant program, we’re on a schedule. So this office will actually be gone within five years. So not only are we announcing our planned grants, but we are also getting these projects up and running.So we have a very small window
Or a big project for a very big project.What the COVID-19 pandemic has taught you broadly
Gosh, Lacey, if COVID has taught us anything, we can run billion-dollar businesses from our couches. But the key is that you have to stay connected. Yes, it must be connected. Isn’t this true?Thanks