The Oklahoma Broadband Office officially launched a $4.4 million high-speed internet expansion project with 360 Broadband in Marshall County on Wednesday.
The project, funded through a $3.5 million federal grant administered by the OBO coupled with $878,000 in matching funds from 360 Broadband, will connect 281 homes and businesses in Marshall County with high-speed internet using fiber optic technology. The award from ARPA State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) was made earlier this year by the Oklahoma Broadband Governing Board.
Wednesday’s event highlights the progress being made statewide to get high-speed internet access to all Oklahomans. Three separate SLFRF grants were awarded to three internet service providers (ISPs) to connect 2,152 locations with broadband service in Marshall County. The grant awards total $8.5 million and will be boosted by $3.9 million in matching funds provided by the companies.
Flanked by state legislators, county officials and staff of Oklahoma’s congressional delegation, Broadband Office Executive Director Mike Sanders and 360 Broadband Marketing & Sales Director Dustin Reid broke ground along the shore of Lake Texoma south of State Highway 70 East.
“The expansion of high-speed internet access in Marshall County – and throughout the state – is more than just a technological upgrade; it is a life-changing advancement that will bridge the digital divide, opening new opportunities for education, healthcare, and economic growth, said OBO Director Sanders.
“This initiative will empower our communities, ensuring that every resident can fully participate in the digital age.”
“I am honored to kick off this historic fiber expansion project in Marshall County alongside the Oklahoma Broadband Office,” said Dustin Reid, Director of Sales & Marketing at 360 Broadband. “This initiative marks a significant leap forward for the residents of Marshall County, bringing them into the digital age with high-speed internet.”
When completed, ARPA SLFRF awards will result in some 50,000 Oklahoma homes and businesses being served with affordable and reliable high-speed internet. But the growth of broadband access across Oklahoma is just beginning.
ISPs are currently competing in the Capital Projects Fund (CPF), which has $159 million available for infrastructure projects. Some 150 competitive proposals have been submitted by nearly 40 different companies.
Following CPF, ISPs will compete for more than $750 million in additional grant funds through the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program.
With tens of thousands of locations to be served through OBO administered programs, the office is on pace to complete its mission of achieving statewide coverage.
Source: press release
