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Oklahoma Broadband Office Director Mike Sanders announced the state's largest high-speed internet expansion project. More than $760 million in broadband expansion grants will be awarded this summer. Internet service providers must compete for these grants, with applications due by May 26.
The expansion, part of the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program, aims to connect every unserved and underserved home and business in Oklahoma to reliable, high-speed internet. According to Oklahoma Energy Today, the program predominantly benefits rural residents who have been left behind in the digital age.
Sanders emphasized the significance of this initiative, stating, "The opening of competition for BEAD grants marks a major milestone in our mission to close the digital divide." The Oklahoma Broadband Office is currently overseeing projects funded by nearly $500 million in grants awarded last year, with at least one project in 57 of the state's 77 counties.
AT&T Oklahoma has already launched several projects in partnership with the Oklahoma Broadband Office, including a $2.4 million project in Latimer County. These projects aim to connect thousands of homes and businesses using fiber optic technology.
The Oklahoma Broadband Office, established in 2022, continues to work towards achieving statewide high-speed internet coverage. The final proposal for the BEAD grants will be presented to the Oklahoma Broadband Governing Board and then sent to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration for approval.