Oklahoma Broadband Office to hold “Digital Promise Tour”

 

In the relaunch of an effort to attract potential internet providers, Oklahoma’s Broadband Office plans to conduct a second round of tour stops in cities and towns across the state.

Broadband Office Executive Director Mike Sanders said the tour will begin next month in order to hear from Oklahomans about high-speed internet service expansion.

The “Oklahoma’s Digital Promise” tour will pass through 10 cities and towns to provide information and gather public input to develop a detailed plan to help close the divide between people and businesses with access to high-speed internet service and those without it. The tour kicks off on October 3 and will conclude on November 9.

Residents, business owners, farmers and ranchers, community leaders, members of tribal communities, and representatives for schools, hospitals, nonprofits, and other community organizations are encouraged to attend.

The OBO conducted a 19-stop tour from May to July. Hundreds of Oklahomans participated to give input on their needs for broadband service they currently lack. But due to possible litigation concerns raised by the Attorney General, the Broadband Office was advised to conduct another effort to attract possible interest from other internet providers.

“The goal of the ‘Oklahoma’s Digital Promise’ tour is to collect data points that will ultimately help connect unserved and underserved communities to access to high-speed internet,” Sanders said. “Reliable internet has become a necessity not a luxury. The OBO needs the community’s input in order to break down barriers to access.”

Oklahoma Broadband Office Launches 17-Stop “Let's Get Digital” Listening  Tour | Morning Ag Clips

The public is encouraged to register at this link for any of the stops on the tour, which will take place in the following cities and towns:

  • October 3, 1:00pm – Hobart
  • October 5, 1:00pm – Muskogee
  • October 11, 6:00pm – Krebs
  • October 12, 11:00am – Burns Flat
  • October 17, 1:00pm – Atoka
  • October 19, 6:00pm – Oklahoma City
  • October 24, 11:00am – Okarche
  • October 25, 1:00pm – Duncan
  • October 26, 12:00pm – Watonga
  • November 9, 10:00am – Ponca City

Data show more than 728,000 Oklahomans currently lack access to dependable high-speed internet service in Oklahoma. That’s more than one-in-six Oklahoma residents.