Rural Broadband Council holds initial meeting

Posted on: 8/28/20

The Oklahoma Rural Broadband Council met for its first meeting on Aug. 19. For the agenda and names of each member representing the statutory requirement of the bill, click here. Roger Neal, vice president and COO, Duncan Regional Hospital, is representing rural health care by appointment of Speaker McCall. If you would like to review HB 4018, the Rural Broadband Expansion Act, click here.

The recent meeting was organizational in nature, including establishment of Rep. Logan Philips and Sen. James Leewright as co-chairs. A separate subcommittee was formed to work on a geographic map of how other states reflect their coverage areas instead of adopting the FCC map. Dr. Brian Whitacre, Oklahoma State University, and Brandy Wreath, Oklahoma Corporation Commission, will be staffing this.   

Topics for the next meeting include an update from the secretary of digital transformation, David Ostrowe; a report from Dr. Whitacre on state policies of other states; and Wreath on OUSF funding.

Meetings will be monthly with a due date of Jan. 31 for submission of an annual report to the Legislature. Meetings will be held the third Wednesday of each month at 10 a.m. Meeting agendas will be posted to the Department of Commerce website with a zoom link. (Sandra Harrison)