Hundreds of rural Creek County homes to get rural broadband service

OBO and FiberLink launch fiber expansion

A $1.9 million high-speed internet expansion project was officially launched recently in rural Creek County northwest of Sapulpa by the Oklahoma Broadband Office (OBO) and FiberLink.

The project, funded through a $1.45 million federal grant administered by the OBO coupled with $485,000 in matching funds from FiberLink, will connect 458 homes and businesses with broadband 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.

Thursday’s event is but one example of the progress being made statewide to get high-speed internet access to all Oklahomans. In Creek County, six SLFRF grants were awarded to five internet service providers (ISPs) to connect 1,602 locations with broadband service. The grant awards total $10.9 million and will be boosted by $22.4 million in matching funds provided by the companies.

OBO and FiberLink officials, along with local legislators and municipal officials attended the event in rural Creek County.

“Today’s launch is more than just the laying of fiber – it’s the foundation for opportunity, growth, and connectivity in every corner of Oklahoma. With each mile of broadband we expand, we’re not just bridging a digital divide, we’re empowering our communities for a brighter, more prosperous future,” said OBO Executive Director Mike Sanders.

“This groundbreaking in Pretty Water is a testament to the role that local, small businesses can fulfill in making affordable high-speed internet available in and across Oklahoma. On behalf of FiberLink, LLC, we appreciate the opportunity provided by the Oklahoma Broadband Office to extend our state-of-the-art fiber network to the households and businesses in the Pretty Water community north of Sapulpa.” said Mike Whelan, CEO of FiberLink

“Reliable and affordable internet is essential to accessing many educational and economic opportunities in today’s digital world. I am deeply grateful to FiberLink and the Oklahoma Broadband Office for their efforts to bring high-speed connectivity to House District 30, the Sapulpa area, and communities across our great state. I look forward to seeing the valuable impact this investment will have on our region in the coming years.” said Mark Lawson – Oklahoma House of Representatives, District 30.

“I’m thankful to the Oklahoma Broadband Office and to FiberLink for recognizing the critical need for broadband expansion into our rural areas. They are leading the charge in bringing Oklahoma into the future of internet access across our state.” said Melissa Provenzano – Oklahoma House of Representatives, District 79.

“We are excited and thankful that FiberLink is committed to expanding high-speed internet to un-and-underserved communities in many rural areas around Sapulpa that lack reliable internet service and enhanced digital equality. Creek County is Oklahoma’s tenth largest County, by population, in Oklahoma. However, over 50% of our citizens live in rural areas that lack good quality internet service. Because of this, we are very supportive of FiberLink’s current efforts to improve service to our rural citizens.” said Leon Warner, Creek County Commissioner, District #2.

ARPA-SLFRF-awarded grant projects will result in some 50,000 homes and businesses statewide being served with affordable and reliable high-speed internet. But the growth of broadband access across Oklahoma is just beginning.

Late last month, the Governing Board gave tentative approval to more than $158 million in ARPA Capital Projects Fund grants to 12 internet service providers for 50 projects in 28 counties.

Next, 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