While a final resolution on finance for K-12 schools appears near, Kansas lawmakers are also turning their attention to other issues that concern rural residents.
Reps. Boyd Orr, R-Fowler, and Brad Ralph, R-Dodge City, and Sen. Bud Estes, R-Bucklin, all spoke at a Dodge City Area Chamber of Commerce legislative update on April 21 in the communications center of High Plains Journal.
Orr said one bill passed this session could help rural constituents as it looks at broadband deficiencies. He believes it can serve as the framework to develop a long-term plan to expand high speed internet.
A task force will conduct a two-year study and committee members will develop a map and identify the areas underserved by high speed internet, Orr said.
House Bill No. 2701 establishes the 17-member Statewide Broadband Expansion Planning Task Force and requires the committee to submit an initial report to the House Committee on Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications and the Senate Committee on Utilities by Jan. 15 and to present a final report outlining recommendations by Jan. 15, 2020.
The mission includes to work collaboratively to develop criteria for the creation of a statewide map for defining and evaluating the broadband needs of Kansas citizens, business, industries, institutions and organizations. The study needs to identify and document risks, issues and constraints associated with a statewide broadband expansion project and develop any corresponding risk mitigation strategies where appropriate. It is also to consider recent actions taken by the Federal Communications Commission and identify initiatives it has proposed. It also should identify opportunities and potential funding sources.
Orr said inadequate internet speed is a common complaint he hears from rural constituents.
A lack of high speed internet has been discussed for many years and Orr said after the update he was encouraged the FCC and the U.S. Department of Agriculture consider improving broadband for rural constituents a priority.
“We’ve talked about it before (in past years) but we’re not seeing any improvement and that’s what we would like to see,” Orr said. “The FCC chairman, Ajit Pai, is from Kansas, and that can help as he understands the issues so we know we’re not alone.”
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has talked about the need to improve broadband and perhaps several federal programs could be put in place to entice internet companies to provide full broadband, Orr said.
“It presents great opportunities with broadband and with the speed are talking about,” Orr said.
“When I go to Kansas City or Olathe I can go to any wall switch and turn on the electricity and the lights come one and I can do the same at my house in Fowler,” Orr said. “When I switch on the internet in Kansas City and Olathe I get high speed internet service right away. But when I go to ‘switch on’ the internet at Fowler what I do see is a circle (the browser) that goes round and round.”
He scoffs at people who say the service cannot be improved.
“In the 1940s many people said the REA would never go out and provide electricity to the farms in the country. We figured out a way to do it. There is a way to do it. The task force will look at grants and programs. I think it will be a boon longer term, I think in the next several years we will have a plan in place. It is all part of our economic development in southwest Kansas.”
Estes and Ralph also agreed that improving broadband will help rural Kansans.
Estes also said progress was being made toward a mid-level training facility that could help western Kansas. The facility would help train students who want to live in western Kansas. A Board of Regents report indicates that 23 percent of Ford County and 18 percent of Seward County high school graduates get a degree from a four-year college. The training facility would work with the area universities and community colleges to provide additional training and learning experiences.
“We are looking at a group of kids who want to stay close to home. This gives them an opportunity to stay at home and make a better living,” Estes said. “Retaining youth who want to live in western Kansas by providing them with the right opportunities is starting to gain steam.”
“If we get it done, it will be a boon to western Kansas,” Estes said.
Ralph also serves on a multi-state interstate passenger service committee that pertains to Amtrak. A spur to linking Wichita to Newton could help improve ridership on the passenger rail services is one project he noted. The Amtrak service for Kansas includes stops in Topeka, Lawrence, Hutchinson, Newton, Dodge City and Garden City. The Southwest Chief goes from Chicago to Los Angeles.
The elected officials also discussed the need to fund roads and mental health services in rural communities.
Dave Bergmeier can be reached at 620-227-1822 or [email protected].
