Officials in Oklahoma said they planned to return $225 million in federal broadband funds that were approved to the state by Congress.
The Oklahoma Broadband Office said it can expand internet service across the state using cheaper wireless options and that it does not need the money.
“It used to be considered to have high-speed Internet a luxury. Not anymore,” Oklahoma Broadband Office Director Mike Sanders said. “Whether it be for education purposes, health care purposes, economic development, what a great tool.”
Sanders additionally said the state is sending back the money due to an order from the Trump administration that mandated states expand internet access only using the lowest-cost option, including if that would entail not using broadband cables anymore.
Some critics have warned, however, that sending back the funds could leave rural residents with poor internet service. Getting reliable internet in rural areas, not just in Oklahoma but in all parts of the country, can be difficult for residents.
“I found myself having to go to McDonald’s and set up and do my work from a McDonald’s parking lot,” former Republican state Rep. Logan Phillips told KFOR.
Phillips worked to start the Oklahoma Broadband Office to secure $1.3 billion for the state from the American Rescue Plan Act and the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill to expand high-speed internet access across the state. He called sending back the money a mistake.
“A once-in-a-100-year opportunity that we worked for years to create the office for work, for years to get the money to the office,” Phillips said.
Sanders noted that Oklahoma joins other states in sending back funds for broadband. Arkansas, Colorado, and Louisiana have all decreased their proposed broadband spending by larger shares than Oklahoma’s 30%.
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Still, Oklahoma remains one of the worst states at getting their residents connected to the internet. Just 80% of Oklahoma residents have access to 100Mbps broadband, ranking 45th among all states, according to BroadbandNow.
The plan to finalize sending back the money will be approved later this year.