SLICK – Two high-speed internet expansion projects worth $4.8 million were launched Tuesday afternoon in the town of Slick in Creek County by the Oklahoma Broadband Office (OBO) and ecoLINK fiber services.
The projects, funded through $2.9 million in federal grants administered by the OBO coupled with $1.9 million in matching funds from ecoLINK, a subsidiary of East Central Electric Coop, will connect 265 homes and businesses in Creek County with broadband internet using fiber optic technology. The awards from ARPA State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) were made earlier this year by the Oklahoma Broadband Governing Board.
Tuesday’s event illustrates 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 $9.8 million and will be boosted by $22.4 million in matching funds provided by the companies.
OBO officials, along with local legislators, ecoLINK employees and staff of Oklahoma’s congressional delegation attended the groundbreaking in the town of about 150 people southwest of Tulsa.
“Bringing high-speed internet service to Slick illustrates the exact purpose of our efforts and marks a pivotal step in bridging the digital divide for rural Oklahoma. This work will not only enhance connectivity but also empower the local community with new opportunities for progress and development,” said Dr. Jim Meek, chair of the state’s Broadband Governing Board.
“Expanding broadband access in Slick and throughout rural Oklahoma will unlock new opportunities for education, healthcare, and business, fostering growth and innovation. This investment ensures that every resident can get connected and thrive in the modern digital age,” said OBO Executive Director Mike Sanders.
“The Legislature directed grant funds be used for expanding broadband access because we recognized the crucial need for economic growth and educational opportunities in this district and throughout the state. By connecting our communities to the resources they need, we help them to prosper in the modern economy and ensure that no one is left behind,” said House Speaker Pro Tempore Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow.
“This groundbreaking in Slick is a testament to the Legislature’s commitment to rural revitalization through strategic investments. By ensuring the availability of high-speed internet, we are laying the foundation for sustained economic growth and improved quality of life in Creek County and across Oklahoma,” said Senator Roger Thompson, R-Okemah.
“This project is similar to when the co-ops first brought electricity to rural homes and farms. It made such a difference in the lives of those who had been overlooked or refused service. Now, over 85 years later, we are able to provide another valuable service to households across our territory thanks to the help of the Oklahoma Broadband Office,” said Tim Smith, Chief Executive Officer of East Central Electric.
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.
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.