The Oklahoma Broadband Office’s statewide broadband listening tour will be making several tour stops in the coming weeks across the state, and Oklahoma Farm Bureau members are encouraged to attend.
The “Let’s Get Digital: Oklahoma Broadband Tour” will pass through 17 cities and towns to gather public input for a five-year plan to connect the entire state to high-speed internet. The tour kicked off on May 8 and will continue through June 23 with meetings in all four corners and points in-between of Oklahoma.
Data show more than 800,000 Oklahomans currently lack access to dependable high-speed internet service in Oklahoma. That’s more than one-in-five Oklahoma residents.
“Access to affordable and reliable high-speed internet service has become a necessity. Our mission is to ensure every family, student, business, farmer and tribal community in Oklahoma has that access,” said Mike Sanders, Oklahoma Broadband Office executive director.
“A key priority to ensure our mission is successful is to hear from and talk with Oklahomans who lack adequate service today. We welcome anyone with questions or concerns, or who wants to learn more about our efforts to attend one of the 17 meetings scheduled across the state in May and June.”
Ensuring quality access to broadband services across Oklahoma is a priority for Oklahoma Farm Bureau members.
The public is encouraged to register at oklahoma.gov/broadband/outreach for any of the stops on the tour, which will take place at libraries in the following cities and towns:
- May 11 at 4:30 p.m. — Enid
Enid Public Library
120 W. Maine St., Enid - May 12 at 1:00 p.m. — Stillwater
Central Rural Electric Cooperative
3305 S. Boomer Rd., Stillwater - May 15 at 4:30 p.m. — Vinita
Piguet’s Prime Time
440626 E. 230 Rd., Vinita - May 16 at 9:00 a.m. — Poteau
Don W. Reynolds Community Center
105 Reynolds Ave., Poteau - May 18 at 4:30 p.m. — Broken Bow
Broken Bow Public Library
404 N. Broadway St., Broken Bow - May 22 at 9:30 a.m. — Oklahoma City
Ronald J. Norick Downtown Library
300 Park Ave., Oklahoma City - May 23 at 4:30 p.m. — Durant
Don W. Reynolds Community Center
1515 W. Main, Durant - May 26 at 4:30 p.m. — Chickasha
Chickasha Public Library
527 W. Iowa Ave., Chickasha
- June 2 at 4:30 p.m. — Altus
Altus Public Library
421 N. Hudson, Altus - June 6 at 4:30 p.m. — Sallisaw
People, Inc.
205 S. J.T. Stites St., Sallisaw - June 8 at 4:30 p.m. — Sulphur
Parker Memorial Library
500 W. Broadway, Sulphur - June 9 at 4:30 p.m. — Lawton
Lawton Public Library
110 SW 4th St., Lawton - June 13 at 4:30 p.m — Ada
Ada Public Library
124 S. Rennie, Ada - June 20 at 4:30 p.m. — Okmulgee
OSU-IT
1804 N. 4th St., Okmulgee - June 22 at 4:30 p.m. — Goodwell
Panhandle State University
323 Eagle Blvd., Goodwell - June 23 at 4:30 p.m. — Woodward
Woodward Conference Center
3401 Centennial Ln., Woodward
Residents, business owners, farmers and ranchers, leaders, members of tribal communities, and representatives for schools, hospitals, nonprofits, and other community organizations are encouraged to attend.
For questions regarding the broadband listening tour, the public is encouraged to email or call MJ Barton, Tribal & Programs Outreach Manager, OBO at mj.barton@broadband.ok.gov or (405) 517-2393.