(Jan. 28, 2025) – Today, the House and Senate Utilities Committees heard updates on broadband. The House Committee heard from Cat Moyer from Pioneer Communications regarding rural broadband. The committee heard that Pioneer has spent more than $200 million annually to build a network in Kansas. They highlighted the Department of Commerce Broadband Acceleration Grant Program and the Federal Infrastructure and Jobs Act. The committee also heard from the Kansas oil and gas industry on trends and the economic impact on the Kansas economy.

On the Senate side, the committee heard an update from the Kansas Department of Commerce, Office of Broadband. The community heard there are 29 rural local exchange carriers, with more than $85 million to be distributed through the Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Plan in the next ten years. The committee also heard about the Federal Infrastructure and Jobs Act, which will bring $451 million to fund Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program.