Wyoming’s broadband boom is heating up

Wyoming is at the bottom of the list for access to affordable fast internet, according to Broadband Now. Increasing access to high-speed internet has been a focus of economic development efforts by Gov Mark Gordon (R-WY), and his predecessor Matt Mead (R-WY). In 2018 Wyoming began to ramp up broadband efforts, when the Legislature passed Senate File 100. The bill set aside $10 million to fund broadband expansion projects. But the grants went largely untouched because eligibility was limited to public/private partnerships, and, some argued, there wasn’t enough money on the table to get private providers on board. Now the sluggish and piecemeal nature of Wyoming’s broadband expansion is poised to change. An influx of federal funds has sped up the process; and larger internet service providers are now competing to build out service in rural and less profitable areas. Additional funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, may finally provide households and businesses across the state a chance to connect.