The Kansas Office of Broadband Development (KOBD) recently announced a partnership with AT&T to expand AT&T Fiber to more than 10,000 additional customer locations in Sedgwick County.
The KOBD plans to award AT&T $2.2 million to help fund the project, which also will include funding investment from AT&T. The total cost of the project is estimated to be $10.4 million.
“Bringing fast and reliable AT&T Fiber to Kansas communities like this shows how we’re helping to close the digital divide through public-private partnerships,” said AT&T Kansas President Jim Jamison. “This decision from the Kansas Office of Broadband Development helps to bring the fastest and most cost-effective long-term internet solution to Sedgwick County.”
According to AT&T, extensive planning and engineering work for this project will begin immediately once a contract is completed. The network buildout is expected to be complete by the end of 2024.
Jamison said the expansion of AT&T Fiber to Sedgwick County will provide residents and businesses with access to high-speed internet. AT&T Fiber offers speeds of up to 5 gigabits per second — much faster than the average internet speed in Kansas.
“During the pandemic, we saw how critical it is that families are connected to the internet,” said Jamison. “So many vital activities take place online, whether that’s online learning, paying bills, entertainment — we have to help meet Kansas families’ needs.”
Jamison said the expansion of AT&T Fiber is a major investment in Sedgwick County and believes it will help to attract new businesses and residents to the area and boost the local and Kansas economy.
The expansion of AT&T Fiber is one of many projects that the KOBD is working on to make high-speed internet more accessible to all Kansans.
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly in June announced that Kansas will receive $451.7 million in funding to support broadband infrastructure construction to connect all Kansans, ensuring access to high-speed internet across the state.
“My administration is committed to ensuring every Kansan, regardless of their zip code, has access to fast and reliable internet connectivity, bringing additional economic growth, educational opportunities, and telehealth services,” said Gov. Kelly. “This funding advances our progress toward being a top 10 state for broadband access by 2030.”
According to a Kansas Department of Commerce press release, in anticipation of this funding, the KOBD is completing work on strategic plans for broadband access and digital equity. Data is still being collected to better understand broadband needs, in order to deploy the funding efficiently.
The KOBD encourages Kansans to complete a speed test and participate in the process. To participate, residents should visit the official website, broadbandks.com, where they can complete a quick and simple online speed test. This test, which only takes a few minutes, will provide valuable data on internet connectivity throughout the state.
