Tulsa County Commissioners Placing Priority on American Rescue Plan Funding for Broadband

As the pandemic spread across the country there was a major shift in the way people performed their jobs, got their education, saw their doctor, visited with the family, or went to church. With social and personal distancing separating us from our normal routines and relationships, we had to rely upon the internet, sometimes referred to as broadband, in order to continue many aspects of our daily lives.

For many this was very difficult or impossible to do because the broadband connection didn’t exist where they were, the connections were poor, or the speed was very slow. Along with so many other things, the pandemic made us realize how disconnected people were when they had to depend upon broadband for their livelihood, family connections, education, and mental health.

A recent report shows 42 million Americans lack high speed internet service, 22 million Americans 65 and older lack service, and the average monthly cost was about $60 for basic broadband. In Tulsa County about 13% of households are without internet access and about 10% of households do not have a computer, smartphone or tablet. These numbers are much higher in the rural areas of our state and county.
Having reliable, fast, and affordable high-speed internet is as fundamental as acquiring electricity in the first half of the 20th century. In many cases we will not return to the ways we connected with others before the pandemic. Broadband expansion is here to stay and in our future.

Broadband connection is the equity issue of our times. If you can’t connect, you can’t compete. Beyond being a basic necessity, high speed broadband is also an accelerator of opportunity in today’s connected world.
Tulsa County officials play a crucial role as policy makers in pursing sustainable solutions to broadband access, affordability, and reliability. That is why the Tulsa Board of County Commissioners is placing a priority on how and where the American Rescue Plan funds received by the county are spent on broadband infrastructure in Tulsa County.

To begin the development of an expanded broadband plan, the City of Tulsa and Tulsa County Information Technology staffs have been working for many weeks to look at where current broadband infrastructure is and what will it take to complete the middle mile and last mile into areas which are either unserved or underserved.
This expansion and development of new and faster broadband could be to businesses, public facilities, non – profit agencies, congregate living facilities, or medical facilities which serve those who don’t have access to broadband.
The guidance provided by the Treasury Department on the use of the American Rescue Plan funds for broadband is very clear that any new broadband service has to provide very fast service with both sending and receiving information. Funding can also be used to help those who have little experience with broadband to learn how to use it

Bridging the digital divide is one of the many important opportunities to come out of the effects of the pandemic. With the American Rescue Plan funds, Tulsa County will do its part of investing in a future that is equitable to all of the citizens in Tulsa County.