Largely rural central Idaho is seeing improvements in its broadband infrastructure thanks to the efforts of legislators like State Senator Carl Crabtree. As the Idaho County Free Press reports, Crabtree wants to see the progress continue, sponsoring a new bill that would fund $35 million in ongoing broadband outreach. Crabtree is part of the Idaho Broadband Task Force established by Governor Brad Little.
Of the bill, Crabtree said, “This means we’ll be able to do a bunch more in North Central Idaho on broadband. Because we’re the worst place in the state [in terms of broadband connectivity] this is an easy thing to market.”
Underserved areas in Idaho were identified by a committee of legislators who first addressed the issue in 2019. Crabtree says the $35 million would fund projects that the committee determined to be “the poorer performing areas of the state, which is ours.” Crabtree represents rural District 7.
Last year, Airbridge Broadband was able to use $1.32 million in federal coronavirus relief funds to bring broadband to 3,000 Idaho households. Groundwork was also laid last year to beef up the infrastructure in preparation for further broadband expansion. So far, 2,330 fiber lines have been placed by Ziply Fiber, and Inland Cellular has completed 178 installations.
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