Oklahoma Broadband Office Plans Tour Stop in Ponca City

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Broadband Office (OBO) will hold a meeting in Ponca City next Thursday to talk with and hear from Oklahomans about high-speed internet service expansion, OBO Executive Director Mike Sanders announced today. 

 The “Oklahoma’s Digital Promise” tour stop will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 9, at the Ponca City Library, 516 E. Grand Ave.  

 The tour has passed through 10 cities and towns to provide information and gather public input to develop a detailed plan to help close the divide between people and businesses with access to high-speed internet service and those without it. The tour kicked off on October 3 and concludes with the Ponca City event.  

 Residents, business owners, farmers and ranchers, community leaders, members of tribal communities, and representatives for schools, hospitals, nonprofits, and other community organizations are encouraged to attend.  

 “The goal of the ‘Oklahoma’s Digital Promise’ tour is to collect data that will ultimately help connect unserved and underserved communities to access to high-speed internet,” Sanders said. “Reliable internet has become a necessity not a luxury. The OBO needs the community’s input in order to break down barriers to access.” 

  The public is encouraged to register at this link for the Ponca City meeting. 

  Data show more than 728,000 Oklahomans currently lack access to dependable high-speed internet service in Oklahoma. 

  For questions regarding the tour, the public is encouraged to email or call MJ Barton, Tribal & Programs Outreach Manager, OBO, at [email protected] or (405) 517-2393. 

About the Oklahoma Broadband Office 

 Oklahoma has launched a bold and transparent effort to ensure fast and affordable broadband internet service is available throughout the state and the Oklahoma Broadband Office is a key component. 

 Created in 2022, the office is on a mission to develop and administer federal grant programs to make affordable, high-speed internet available to all Oklahomans. It also coordinates efforts throughout the state to ensure broadband expansion is conducted effectively and efficiently.