Millions of dollars in jeopardy as Oklahoma Broadband Office reevaluates ARPA funds

OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) - The Oklahoma Broadband Office says it's "reevaluating the process" for how it's allocating $382 million dollars in ARPA funds to expand internet access in rural Oklahoma. The money must be spent by the end of 2024.

Concerns were raised at Tuesday's board meeting about how that money will be be distributed to private companies and whether it's legal.

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One board member suggested bringing in experts, like the attorney general, to make sure they're following state statutes throughout the process that's already underway.

"I want to do this right," said Katy Boren of the broadband governing board. "And we all do, so I feel like the more information we have, the better."

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One ISP provider, Opitimum, spoke at the meeting complaining the process isn't transparent, and accusing the broadband office of giving out grant money for companies to build out new lines on top of existing service.

Or overbuild, rather than reach underserved areas of the state.

If the ARPA funding isn't distributed correctly by the deadline next year, Oklahoma could be forced to return the nearly 400 hundred million of dollars to the federal government.

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