Missouri releases final proposal for federal broadband expansion program

The Office of Broadband Development, housed within the Missouri Department of Economic Development, released Missouri’s final proposal for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program, a federal initiative established by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The state plans to invest over $700 million to bring broadband to over 200,000 homes and businesses throughout Missouri.

These homes and businesses are considered “unserved or underserved,” meaning that they lack reliable access to high-speed internet. Missouri had the third most locations in the nation with less than ideal access to internet services, according to BJ Tanksley, the director of the Office of Broadband Development.

The final plan hopes to provide 81% of the targeted locations with fiber-based service, all while using less than half of the state’s allocated BEAD funds. The Department of Economic Development said this plan will save nearly $1 billion of the $1.7 billion in allocated federal funds. 

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