Residents of Conway Springs in western Sedgwick County, Kansas, are expressing their thoughts on the enhanced internet access in their rural community. Recently, the State of Kansas received a substantial sum of over $450 million from the federal government, aimed at improving broadband connectivity. To gauge the impact of this initiative, 12 News visited Conway Springs and spoke with the local residents.
Without state funding, internet companies would not have the means to develop the necessary infrastructure for high-speed internet in rural Kansas communities. This is precisely how Haviland Broadband managed to bring fiber internet to Conway Springs and is currently expanding access to high-speed internet in other rural areas of Kansas.
According to Haviland, they began prioritizing the enhancement of their fiber infrastructure slightly prior to the pandemic, courtesy of grant funding from the state.
Diane Thompson, the General Manager of Haviland Broadband, explained that the majority of the funds were allocated towards enhancing wireless infrastructure. She mentioned that they already had a few existing towers which allowed them to efficiently cater to a significant number of their customers.
In Conway Springs, the local community is expressing satisfaction with their internet access. Lori Becker, a native of Conway Springs, expressed gratitude towards the state’s efforts to invest in internet access for rural areas in Kansas. According to Becker, there are already several resources that the community lacks immediate access to, making the investment in internet access crucial for their needs.
Becker emphasized that the absence of those essential items restricts their capabilities and imposes limitations on their actions.
The state of Kansas has made a commitment to provide high-speed internet access to all its residents by 2030. Governor Laura Kelly emphasized the importance of ensuring that every corner of the state has affordable and accessible internet connectivity. This initiative aims to eliminate barriers and allow people in small towns to live without the constant worry of losing internet access.
“The job I currently have allows me to work remotely, but it requires a reliable high-speed internet connection,” Becker explained.
This year, Kansas aims to enhance its digital equity capacity in preparation for the implementation of its plans in the following year. You can find the state’s comprehensive digital equity plan here: [link to the Kansas digital equity plan](https://www.kansascommerce.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/DE-PLAN-FINAL.wo-appdx.pdf).
