Senate approves bill to improve rural broadband access

OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — The full Senate gives approval to a measure that will help improve broadband access throughout rural Oklahoma.

House Bill 4018 creates the Rural Broadband Expansion Act. Authored by Sen. James Leewright and House Speaker Charles McCall, and co-authored by Rep. Logan Phillips, the bill was approved unanimously on Tuesday.

Leewright, who chairs the Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee, said expanding rural broadband is a critical issue for the entire state. Oklahoma is currently ranked 47th in the nation in rural broadband access.

“I can tell you one of the first things companies looking at Oklahoma want to know is how is our connectivity,” Leewright said. “The importance of this issue has become even more apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic as so much of our day-to-day lives has shifted to online. For businesses, health care, schools, colleges and universities and so much more, developing a workable plan to expand rural access must be a top priority. That’s what this bill is all about.”

The bill calls for the creation of a Rural Broadband Expansion Council to study rural broadband access in the state, including determining costs for improving access.

HB 4018 will now move to the governor for his consideration.