Oklahoma is now 95 percent of the way toward reaching statewide connectivity, with Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment builds still ahead. But deploying last-mile broadband networks is just one aspect of closing the digital divide.

One of the most interesting positive things that came out of the COVID pandemic was that communities and organizations across the country deployed public WiFi hotspots. This was done at the time to support students and workers who were expected to find a way to work remotely. And this worked well in a lot of places, and I’ve talked to communities who said the public flocked to the free WiFi during the pandemic. There was another benefit of the free hot spots—they created places where people who couldn’t afford broadband suddenly had a place to access the Internet.

U.S. states and territories are making progress on their broadband goals this summer. A number of state-run initiatives have been launched, and several infrastructure projects are in full swing. While it's easy to have all eyes on the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program—and, hypocritically, more on that later—there are countless other actions states are taking to ensure robust broadband access and universal digital adoption. From infrastructure planning to deployment to increasing awareness and resources, states are doing it all.

Louisiana has crossed the $100 million mark in GUMBO 1.0 infrastructure payments—a major milestone in the state's broader effort to achieve full statewide broadband coverage by 2028, two years ahead of the federal goal. Funded by the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Capital Projects Fund, ConnectLA has distributed $102,308,955 to participating internet service providers, representing 83.9 percent of total GUMBO 1.0 awards.

Maine Connectivity Authority (MCA), the public agency expanding connectivity and digital opportunity statewide, announces $3.3 million in grant awards for capital improvements to make economic and social opportunity possible for individuals and communities through digital access.

Rep Addison McDowell (R-NC-06) introduced the Broadband Infrastructure Extension Act. This legislation would extend expenditure deadlines for certain broadband infrastructure projects funded through the American Rescue Plan Act.

The South Carolina Broadband Office announced that eight of the original sixteen projects approved in its Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment Final Proposal were able to be funded with existing, non-BEAD resources. In addition, four of eight remaining BEAD agreements have been signed, and construction should soon be underway. This accomplishment comes on the heels of completing investments of $400 million American Rescue Plan Act funds. In total, prior to the BEAD program, the SCBBO has funded 277 projects since inception, and 231 are complete.

Whidbey Telephone Company in Island County received an additional $1,031,757 to expand reliable, high‑speed broadband access for unserved or underserved households and businesses. The Washington State Public Works Board awarded the funds after previously allocated Coronavirus Capital Project Fund dollars were returned from earlier projects.

More local governments and state agencies in New Mexico will soon be able to provide public Wi-Fi access because of $6 million in U.S. Treasury Department funding for a new community broadband program. The Office of Broadband Access and Expansion launched the New Mexico Community Wi-Fi Digital Connectivity Technology Project, a new program designed to expand and deploy public Wi-Fi in local communities.

Business Oregon’s Oregon Broadband Office has received approval from the U.S. Department of the Treasury for a six-month extension of the ARPA Capital Projects Fund - Broadband Deployment Program, providing additional time to complete critical broadband infrastructure projects across the state. Oregon Broadband Office submitted extension requests on behalf of 13 of 17 awarded projects and received approval for all 13 on June 18, 2026. The four projects that did not seek an extension are expected to reach completion by September 30, 2026.