Gov. Laura Kelly Signals New Wave Of Broadband Development In Kansas

By Tim Carpenter, The Kansas Reflector

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Oct. 9, 2020

TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly elevated the administration’s commitment to improving access to quality internet service in Kansas by establishing Thursday an office of broadband development in the state Department of Commerce.

The Democratic governor outlined 68 broadband projects financed with $49.2 million in federal pandemic funding designed to help the state deal with fallout from a crisis that exposed technology gaps related to education, health and business. The governor and legislators previously agreed to earmark at least $50 million in CARES Act funding for broadband expansion.

The project list includes $2.8 million for Wyandotte County to link broadband infrastructure in Bonner Springs, Edwardsville and Kansas City, Kansas. The list includes $1.8 million to upgrade connections in Finney County for emergency management agencies. In Jefferson County, $600,000 was set aside to improve voice and digital communications for first responders in 10 cities.

In southcentral Kansas, Cox Communitications will use $1.3 million to connect new or unserved homes in Derby and Kechi as well as other Kansas communities. A total of $179,000 will be dedicated to providing direct fiber to three clinics in support of telemedicine services in Wellsville. In Hodgeman County, $386,000 was made available to Blackgragon Networks to install high-speed wireless internet for farms, students and businesses around Jetmore and Hanston.

Kelly issued an executive order directing the broadband office at the Department of Commerce to develop strategies for construction of broadband infrastructure with the goal of delivering “universal broadband access for Kansas homes and businesses.”

The office’s objective will be to advocate for policies that make quality service “more accessible, affordable and reliable in underserved and vulnerable communities,” the governor said.

Kelly directed all agencies of the executive branch to support the commerce department’s work to promote public and private sector cooperation on broadband expansion and digital equity.

The Kansas Reflector seeks to increase people's awareness of how decisions made by elected representatives and other public servants affect our day-to-day lives. We hope to empower and inspire greater participation in democracy throughout Kansas.