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Final approval will enable the connection of 40,509 homes, businesses, and community anchor institutions in hard-to-reach areas.
Edited by Brad Randall, Broadband Communities
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) last month granted final approval for Oklahoma’s last-mile grants under the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, setting the stage for significant broadband expansion across the state.
The approval will enable the connection of 40,509 homes, businesses, and community anchor institutions in hard-to-reach areas, spanning all 77 counties.
Anchor institutions are defined as community support organizations like schools, libraries, and health centers, to name a few.
Upon completion of the work, over 95% of Oklahoma will have access to high-speed internet, supported by a $574 million investment dedicated to these broadband expansion projects, according to the Oklahoma Broadband Office (OBO).
Mike Sanders, executive director of the OBO, expressed enthusiasm about the progress, noting, “The final framework set by NTIA helps us surpass our goal of coverage across the state while saving taxpayers money. We remain laser-focused on reaching unserved locations and delivering practical, dependable broadband service throughout the state.”
Good for everyone
Meanwhile, Jim Meek, chair of the Oklahoma Broadband Governing Board, highlighted the broader impact, stating, “High-speed connectivity in Oklahoma will reach an all-time high thanks to the grant programs administered by the OBO. This is good for our farmers and ranchers, our school children, and those who need remote health care services.”
The approved plan unlocks $428 million in federal grants to be awarded to internet service providers, who will match these funds with $146 million of their own investment, according to the OBO. Additionally, 75% of the grants, awarded to 24 companies, will go to local Oklahoma-based internet providers, the OBO said.
With the NTIA’s blessing, the plan now advances to its final federal review stage with the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Some AI tools assisted in the crafting of this report.
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