Broadband is Part of Wyoming's Strategy to Survive, Drive, and Thrive

In his State of the State Address to the 65th Wyoming Legislature on January 9, 2019—just two days after he was sworn in as Wyoming’s 33rd governor—Mark Gordon (R-WY) outlined his top priorities: fiscal discipline, economic development, and improving Wyoming people’s quality of life. “I support the ongoing effort to improve access to broadband internet coverage throughout the state," he said. "This has been an appropriate partnership between government and private industry. Not only does broadband give our students a tool to compete with the rest of the world, it is necessary for healthcare delivery—especially in rural areas where other specialized doctors are not available." As a result of a 2018 law, the state's broadband efforts are administered by the Wyoming Business Council, the state's economic development agency. Created in 1998, the council is a team led by a board of directors consisting of 13 business leaders from across the state. Governor Mark Gordon serves as co-chair of the board. The law also appropriated $10 million to establish the Broadband Infrastructure Grant Fund.