NTIA Approves BEAD Grant Program for Oklahoma

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration has issued final approval of last-mile grants under the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program for Oklahoma. Under the approved plan, Oklahoma will connect 40,509 homes, businesses and Community Anchor Institutions with high-speed internet service in hard-to-reach locations. There will be a project in all 77 counties and over 95 percent of the state will be connected when BEAD projects conclude. Total investment in BEAD deployment projects will be $574 million for these new broadband expansion efforts. BEAD grants will be awarded to 24 companies, of which 18, or 75 percent, are local Oklahoma-based internet providers. With NTIA approval now in place, the plan moves into its final federal review stage with the National Institute of Standards and Technology.