The Problem
Many rural Idaho communities lack reliable high-speed internet, limiting access to jobs, education, telehealth, and economic opportunities. Unserved or underserved areas face slow speeds or no connectivity, putting rural families, farms, and small businesses at a disadvantage. Current federal and state broadband funds are available but often slow to deploy due to permitting delays, lack of coordination, and insufficient local prioritization. This widens the urban-rural divide and holds back growth in remote areas.
What I'll Do Day One as Governor
Sign an executive order to accelerate rural broadband deployment using existing resources and authority. Right away:
Direct the Idaho Department of Commerce and Broadband Division to prioritize unserved and underserved rural areas in the distribution of existing federal pass-through funds and state matching grants.
Require state permitting agencies (Transportation, Lands, Water Resources) to fast-track approvals for broadband infrastructure projects (such as fiber, towers, or fixed wireless) with maximum timelines aligned with the Regulatory and Permitting Streamline reform.
Partner with local governments, cooperatives, and private providers to create a Rural Connectivity Task Force (volunteer members including rural residents and providers) to identify priority areas and recommend projects.
Launch pilots in three to five rural counties to test expedited permitting and grant allocation, with results posted on Transparent Idaho in ninety days.
Use savings from Budget Allocation, State Procurement and Contracts, and Agency Performance Audits reforms to supplement matching funds for rural providers (no new spending).
This uses powers I already have under executive oversight of state agencies and existing broadband grant administration authority. No new laws needed first.
How This Is Different From Now
Right now, rural broadband deployment is slow due to permitting delays, fragmented funding, and limited local input. Federal pass-through funds are not always targeted to the most needy areas. This way prioritizes rural unserved regions, fast-tracks permitting, adds local task force input, and uses savings to boost matching funds. It enforces existing broadband and permitting rules more effectively, ensures rural communities are not left behind, and accelerates connectivity without new programs or spending.
What I'll Push the Legislature For
Easy laws to make it permanent:
Require prioritization of unserved and underserved rural areas in state-administered broadband funds.
Codify expedited permitting timelines for broadband infrastructure projects.
Authorize matching grants (funded by existing savings) for rural providers and cooperatives that achieve deployment milestones.
Mandate annual public reporting of broadband coverage, deployment progress, and rural impact on Transparent Idaho.
No big new spending. All acceleration is funded by savings from waste-cutting reforms and existing federal pass-through funds.
How We'll Check It Works
We will keep it honest with:
Public postings on Transparent Idaho showing broadband grant allocations, permitting status, coverage maps, and deployment progress.
Regular audits of fund use, permitting compliance, and rural impact.
Citizens Task Force to review trends, gather input from rural residents and providers, and recommend adjustments.
Yearly report on new connections, speed improvements, rural economic benefits, and cost per connection.
Everything open for anyone to look at and ask about.
How This Connects to Other Reforms
This reform accelerates high-speed internet in rural areas using existing federal funds and fast-tracked permitting from Regulatory and Permitting Streamline. Budget reform protects broadband funds from cuts. Audits verify efficient deployment. Workforce reform supports staffing for rural connectivity projects. Grant reform funds local broadband initiatives. Housing and tourism reforms benefit from better connectivity for remote work and visitor access. This reform uses the efficiency from the others to close the digital divide.
Answers to Common Questions
Won't this favor rural areas over urban ones?
No. Urban areas already have better connectivity. This focuses on closing the gap for rural Idahoans without reducing urban resources.
How do we pay for this without new spending?
All incentives and matching funds come from savings in Budget Allocation, Procurement and Contracts, and Audits reforms. Federal pass-through funds are used efficiently.
What if private providers do not want to serve rural areas?
The task force identifies priority areas and works with cooperatives and local providers. Incentives encourage deployment where market forces alone are not sufficient.
Does this connect to the Regulatory and Permitting Streamline?
Yes. Faster permitting for broadband infrastructure (such as fiber or towers) is directly supported by the permitting reform's timelines and portal.
How does this connect to agency performance audits?
Audits verify efficient use of broadband funds, deployment progress, and rural impact.
How does this help rural economies?
Reliable internet enables remote work, online education, telehealth, and e-commerce, creating jobs and opportunities in remote areas.
What about privacy or data concerns with broadband expansion?
All projects comply with existing privacy laws. The focus is on access, not surveillance.
How will we know if it is working?
Public reports on Transparent Idaho will track new connections, speed improvements, and rural economic benefits. Citizen input helps measure real impact.
What if federal funds change or are reduced?
The initiative prioritizes efficient use of whatever federal funds are available and supplements with state savings when needed.
How do we ensure local input?
The Rural Connectivity Task Force includes rural residents and providers. Local communities are consulted on priority areas.