In the first of three rounds of funding seven service providers are being awarded nearly $16 million to will bring broadband service to underserved, economically distressed, and low-population areas of Kansas, announced Governor Laura Kelly this week.
This phase of funding will connect more than 1,900 homes, businesses, schools, healthcare facilities, and other public institutions to broadband internet in the next 24 months.
Similar to connectivity challenges of the 1930s rural electrification effort, the “last mile” problem has led many rural areas to be left unserved by broadband service. This broadband grant program funded by the American Rescue Plan (ARP) seeks to address this last mile problem as a part of the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to connect every household to high speed internet service.
