State receives nearly $800 million for high-speed internet access

Oklahoma is getting $797 million to expand access to high-speed internet.

About 700,000 Oklahomans don’t have that critical service, according to the FCC. That’s about one-in-six people.

The money is part of a federal grant received by the Oklahoma Broadband Office (OBO).

Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell said the grant is a game changer for Oklahoma.

“Broadband is essential to economic development and one of the most critical infrastructure challenges of our time,” said Pinnell.

Most of the money will be used to build fiber optic broadband lines in areas without them. Some funds will be used for the development of workforce training.

The OBO, created last year, is on a five-year mission to make high-speed internet access available to all Oklahomans.