The Oklahoma Broadband Office (OBO) wrapped up its 19-stop listening tour on July 18 in Woodward. More than 6,500 miles were traveled to hear from Oklahomans.
Local leaders, nonprofits, educators, healthcare providers, business leaders, and community members contributed to the conversation by expressing barriers to high-speed internet in their areas. Here are their top responses:
- Internet service is too expensive
- Internet service is not available to their home
- They only subscribe to mobile internet service
The OBO heard from communities about their high-speed internet priorities. Here is what we heard:
- Improve high-speed infrastructure
- Increase speed/reliability of internet connection
- Make internet service more affordable
Information gathered from the listening tour will go into our Five-Year Action Plan which helps prioritize BEAD funding.
The OBO has met with thousands of Oklahomans with the goal of ensuring broadband expansion is conducted efficiently and effectively.
Our outreach efforts are just beginning. We continue to engage with citizens, Internet Service Providers, Tribal Governments, and community anchor institutions, including schools, libraries and hospitals.
