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Governor Laura Kelly announced that $6.7 million has been awarded to five Internet Service Providers through the Broadband Acceleration Grant program. With matching private and local investments of $6.7 million, the total $13.4 million will expand high-speed internet to eight rural Kansas counties.

These projects will provide reliable service to about 1,068 homes and businesses, including many in hard-to-reach areas that currently lack good internet access.

The Broadband Acceleration Grant, started in 2020, is a 10-year, $85 million program aimed at bringing essential internet service to communities across Kansas.

The program is run by the Kansas Office of Broadband Development and funded through the Kansas Department of Transportation’s Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program (IKE). This round brings the total broadband investment to nearly $70 million.

Projects were chosen after review by an executive committee and a public comment period, ensuring community input and transparency in each funding decision.