Dusty roads to digital highways: Federal programs roll out $1.3 billion for broadband infrastructure

In 2020, people were confined to their homes, expected to keep the world turning despite a global pandemic. As Zoom calls became the new normal, lack of connectivity posed a large issue for Americans living in rural communities without high-speed internet access.

“One of the few good things that came out of the pandemic was people realizing, ‘Hey, broadband really is important, and we need to get people connected who weren’t,’” said Brian Whitacre, Oklahoma State University agricultural economics professor and chairman of the Oklahoma Broadband Expansion Council.

When people, legislators in pa...