Oklahoma lawmakers are considering a bill that could dramatically improve internet service for large swaths of the state that have long been underserved.
House Bill 3363, the Oklahoma Broadband Expansion Act, authored by  Speaker Charles McCall, would create the Oklahoma Broadband Office.
Currently, Oklahoma ranks 43rd nationally for rural access to  broadband, with only 48% of rural households having broadband connections. The office would be created with a portion of Oklahoma’s American Rescue Plan Act funding.
The  proposed bill would collect and distribute all funds available for  broadband expansion in Oklahoma; create and update the Statewide  Broadband Plan to achieve 95% service in five years; and maintain a  mapping system of all broadband infrastructure within the state.
