Oklahoma is poised to receive almost $800 million in federal grant funds to expand internet access across the state.

Mike Sanders, executive director of the Oklahoma Broadband Office, said this week that Oklahoma, Montana and Vermont would receive a total of $1.6 billion from the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment – BEAD – program this year.

“This is a game changer,” Sanders said. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

On Thursday the National Telecommunications and Information Administration announced approval of the state’s Initial Proposal Volume II, which outlined the selection process. Sanders said the Oklahoma Broadband Office has a year from the approval date to complete the process and award funds to eligible internet service providers.

Created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the BEAD program is a $42.45 billion state grant program. The states, U.S. territories and Washington, D.C., received billions in federal funding to deploy or upgrade high-speed internet networks to ensure the public has access to reliable, affordable, high-speed -internet service. 

Sanders said Oklahoma would eventually spend a total of $1.3 billion in federal funds to expand internet access in remote areas. While the $797 million grant was “by far the largest pot,” Sanders said, he added that private funds would supplement that investment.

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Sanders said the BEAD program was the largest high-speed internet expansion effort in Oklahoma history.

“We’re going to be changing generations for the better,” he said. “Whether it’s education, whether it’s heath care, whether it’s economic development. This will level the playing field between areas that have had high-speed internet and those who have not.”

Once the expansion is complete, he said, Oklahomans will see the benefits for years to come.

How will the federal money be used to expand broadband in Oklahoma?

Sanders said Oklahoma’s $797.4 million share of the program will be used to fund last-mile connections for unserved and underserved homes and businesses. However, before the award process can begin, the office will administer a challenge process to determine which locations in Oklahoma are eligible for funding.

Under the program, BEAD-eligible entities — the states, territories and the District of Columbia — are required to submit proposals to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration for approval. The initial proposal must show how each entity plans to spend their BEAD allocation.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes an earmarked $65 billion investment to expand affordable and reliable high-speed internet access in communities across the United States.

All states submitted their initial proposals last December.  

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One year from initial proposal approval, states must submit a final proposal that details, among other things, the outcome of the selection process and how the state will ensure universal coverage. Oklahoma’s grant was the largest of the three awarded. The two other grants included $668 million allocated to Montana and $228 million to Vermont.

Gina Raimondo, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, said a reliable internet connection was a necessity that enables access to jobs, health care and education.

Sanders said federal approval of the state’s plan was the result of many months of intensive planning and stakeholder engagement.

“We want to ensure we can bridge the digital divide in this state once and for all,” he said. “Our office will continue to ensure this money goes directly to areas that don’t have high-speed internet access.”