From staff reports The Biden administration is set to give another $800 million in federal funds so Oklahoma can proceed with the expansion of its broadband service into rural areas of the state.
Mike Sanders, executive director of the Oklahoma Broadband Office, called it a “game changer” as the funds would represent a share of $1.6 billion going to Oklahoma, Montana and Vermont. The funds are from the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment or BEAD program which has offered $42.45 billion to states for internet expansion.
Oklahoma applied to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration for the funds and now the state has one year to award the additional $797 million for different eligible internet service providers. The amount will boost Oklahoma’s total to $1.3 billion to expand internet service into the state’s remote rural areas.