Kansas

The Rural Digital Opportunity Fund continues to see service providers default on their commitments. The latest to do so include Plains Internet, Easton Utilities, and MSEC Communications, according to a public notice published by the Federal Communications Commission. The three providers were set to deliver service in parts of Kansas, Maryland and Texas, according to the notice.

Plains Internet notified the Federal Communications Commission that it will default on its Rural Digital Opportunity Fund obligations in Kansas (SAC 419049). Plains was authorized to receive a total of $9,834.00 in RDOF support to deploy voice and gigabit broadband service to three locations in Kansas. Plains has not deployed service to any of those three locations and will therefore be in default of those obligations.

Across Kansas, families, small businesses, students, hospitals, and entire communities rely on fast, dependable broadband. It’s no longer a luxury—it’s the infrastructure that keeps our modern lives connected. But while the technology powering that connectivity has advanced quickly, Kansas law governing how broadband providers access and use public right-of-way has not kept up. And that gap is now creating inequities that affect providers and the customers we serve. Today, cable companies, phone companies, and broadband-only providers all use the public ROW to deliver service.

Gov Laura Kelly (D-KS) announced that $6.7 million has been awarded to five Internet Service Providers through the latest round of the Broadband Acceleration Grant program.

Governor Laura Kelly (D-KS) announced that the National Telecommunications and Information Administration has approved the Kansas Office of Broadband Development’s $166.6 million final proposal for the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program. The approval represents a significant milestone toward delivering high-speed internet access to the 26,673 eligible households and businesses across Kansas. Kansas’ final proposal builds on volumes one and two of the initial proposal and is revised in alignment with NTIA’s 2025 BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice.

Kansas Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland announced $23 million is available to improve broadband infrastructure through the Broadband Acceleration Grant program. Grants up to $1 million will be awarded to offset the capital expenses providers need to deploy service in unserved areas of Kansas.

Applications are open for the second round of the Digital Opportunities to Connect Kansans program, Governor Laura Kelly announced. In the second round, $1.95 million in funds will be available for programs designed to enhance the digital skills of state residents. The DOCK program is designed to promote access to digital resources by providing awards to help with funding for digital skills development programs across Kansas.

Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program draft final proposals continue to pour in as each state prepares to submit its final plans to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). Each state is deciding how to connect its un- and underserved locations in what is called the Benefit of the Bargain application round. Today's edition of this series covers ten more states' draft final proposals.

The Kansas Office of Broadband Development released the state's Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program Final Proposal. The public comment period is open until September 1, 2025, at noon CST. Comments can be filed at this link. The final proposal includes $451,725,998 in funding to 16 internet service providers, covering over 26,000 eligible locations.