Oklahoma Broadband Office Greenlights 142 Projects Worth $374 Million

January 25, 2024 – The Oklahoma Broadband Governing Board voted on Thursday to greenlight 142 broadband extension programs throughout 57 of the state’s 77 counties. 

The board approved $374 million in grants for broadband programs, funded by the preexisting American Rescue Plan Act State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds.

Thirty-one participating internet service providers will help supplement the effort by contributing $90 million in matching funds. 

“Governor Stitt and the Legislature’s vision to make broadband service available statewide is clearly taking root,” said Jim Meek, chair of the Oklahoma Broadband Governing Board. “With hundreds of applications and over $5.1 billion in funding requests, I commend the board for its dedication and the broadband office staff for its expertise in bringing to fruition this historic first grant program to bridge the digital divide.”

The broadband programs were selected from a list curated by the Oklahoma Broadband Office. The board approved the projects in October and initiated a process to enforce that only homes and businesses without broadband service can participate. The initiatives must be completed by 2026.

The program will set out to serve 55,000 locations that currently do not have broadband internet. Eighty percent of the upcoming projects will utilize fiber. 

“The board’s action is a giant step forward to improving quality of life and fostering digital growth throughout Oklahoma, but especially in rural areas,” said Mike Sanders, executive director of the broadband office. 

“Access to reliable and affordable broadband will enable better educational and healthcare services, stimulate economic development, and empower Oklahomans to leverage the online technologies of the future, regardless of zip code.”

Oklahoma House Speaker Charles McCall argued that broadband expansion is critical in ensuring the state remains an attractive destination for employers. 

In June 2019, the Oklahoma Broadband Office embarked on the“Let’s Get Digital: Oklahoma Broadband Tour,” to hear perspectives from Oklahomans on how to better improve wireless internet service. In 2022, the U.S. Treasury department awarded Oklahoma over $167 million to create the Oklahoma Broadband Infrastructure Grants Program.