$3.7 million granted to Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas to improve internet connectivity - KCTV 5

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - Around $3.7 cardinal has been fixed to the Kickapoo Tribe successful Kansas to amended broadband and net connectivity.

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly says that connected Thursday, Oct. 20, the Kickapoo Tribe successful Kansas received a assistance for much than $3.7 cardinal to link much than 350 Native American homes and businesses with broadband.

“By connecting much than 350 Kickapoo households and businesses to high-speed internet, we’re continuing to present connected our bold and ambitious extremity to marque Kansas a apical 10 authorities for broadband entree by 2030,” Gov. Kelly said. “This backing volition assistance guarantee radical successful each country of our authorities tin link to the world.”

Kelly noted that the Kickapoo Tribe successful Kansas was 1 of 23 Tribal communities crossed the federation that were awarded an “Internet for All” grant to grow entree to high-speed internet. She said the funds beforehand the extremity of improving net connectivity successful the Sunflower State.

“The quality to physique beardown connections with each other, our families, and with the satellite astatine ample is astatine the halfway of our assemblage values and is an important cardinal to our future,” Lester Randall, Kickapoo Tribal Chairman, said. “The funds from this assistance volition supply our assemblage with accessible high-speed internet, enhancing opportunities for economical improvement and acquisition accomplishment portion expanding entree to captious wellness and information resources. We look guardant to bringing broadband infrastructure and services to our Kickapoo assemblage precise soon.”

In 2020, Kelly indicated that the Kansas Office of Broadband Development was established to link Kansans successful underserved and unserved communities to high-speed internet. That year, she said the state’s lone broadband concern programme - the Broadband Acceleration Grant Program - was besides established which has since brought much than $70 cardinal successful broadband infrastructure concern to the Sunflower State.

For much accusation astir communities impacted by these investments, click HERE.

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