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 separate 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.
Joined by state legislators, county officials and staff of Oklahoma’s congressional delegation, Broadband Governing Board Chair Jim Meek, Broadband Office Executive Director Mike Sanders and ecoLINK/East Central Electric Chief Executive Officer Tim Smith broke ground in Slick, a 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,” said Dr. Jim Meek, chair of the state’s Broadband Governing Board. “This work will not only enhance connectivity but also empower the local community with new opportunities for progress and development.”
“Expanding broadband access in Slick and throughout rural Oklahoma will unlock new opportunities for education, healthcare, and business, fostering growth and innovation,” said OBO Executive Director Mike Sanders. “This investment ensures that every resident can get connected and thrive in the modern digital age.”
“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,” said Tim Smith, Chief Executive Officer of East Central Electric. “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.”
When completed, 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.