ND Legislature OKs $50M Boost for Rural Broadband Push

The North Dakota House and Senate passed legislation Friday allocating $50 million for broadband infrastructure in underserved rural areas, a bipartisan effort to bridge the digital divide. The funds will support projects enhancing internet speeds for education and telehealth, as initially reported by the Bismarck Tribune. This state investment complements $130.2 million in federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) grants, prioritizing 100/20 Mbps service for unserved locations and 1 Gbps for community anchors like schools and clinics.[1] North Dakota Information Technology (NDIT) announced federal approval of its BEAD plan in recent weeks, clearing the way for grants under streamlined rules and positioning the state to become the first with 100% high-speed fiber coverage.[3] Already, programs like the Connect America Fund have delivered $7.2 million to connect 1,603 locations at 100 Mbps, while past efforts reached 99.8% of rural students during the pandemic.[1][4] Lawmakers emphasized local needs in areas like Ward County and the Turtle Mountains, where spotty service hampers farm operations and remote learning. The bill arrives amid national pushes, including $42.45 billion in federal broadband grants prioritizing rural builds with low-cost options.[2] NDIT will oversee distribution, focusing on planning, mapping unserved sites and adoption programs to ensure nearly 50,000 households gain access.[1] Sponsors highlighted telehealth gains for aging populations in places like Minot and Williston, where reliable internet could transform healthcare delivery.