South Dakota Legislature OKs $50M Rural Broadband Boost

PIERRE — The South Dakota Legislature passed a landmark $50 million initiative this session to expand high-speed broadband in rural communities, building on years of state efforts to connect unserved households. Initially reported by South Dakota State News, the bill aims to spur economic development and enhance education access in areas where internet speeds lag far behind urban centers. Lawmakers in Pierre approved the funding as part of the 2026 session, with House Bill 1048 and Senate Bill 110 advancing key provisions for deployment.

The new allocation supplements ongoing programs like ConnectSD, which has already received $25 million from the state Broadband Office since 2019, plus a prior $5 million legislative grant to kickstart rural expansions. Proponents highlight benefits for farmers in counties like Perkins and Dewey, where reliable internet enables precision agriculture and remote learning. This comes amid federal support, including $54.5 million awarded to Oglala Lakota Telecommunications for Pine Ridge Reservation projects: a $19.6 million National Telecommunications and Information Administration fixed wireless effort reaching 99.94% of unserved locations, and a $34.9 million USDA ReConnect fiber-to-the-home initiative, with construction slated for spring 2026.

Supporters, including rural electric cooperatives, argue the investment will unlock telehealth and business opportunities across the state's 77,000 square miles. Earlier state moves, like $10 million in CARES Act funds for co-ops, connected over 35,000 homes, setting the stage for this broader push. As federal BEAD program funds totaling $42 billion begin flowing to states, South Dakota positions itself to maximize rural connectivity amid lingering implementation challenges.