First two broadband-funded booths mark the beginning of a statewide effort to expand telehealth, workforce and educational access in public libraries.
KINGFISHER — The first Community Access Portals in Oklahoma are now operating at the Kingfisher Memorial Library, marking the start of a statewide initiative to bring secure telehealth, workforce and educational services to public libraries across the state.
The Oklahoma Broadband Office celebrated the deployment Thursday, calling it a milestone in the state’s effort to expand access to essential online services, particularly in rural communities. The program is expected to place up to 175 Community Access Portals in public libraries across Oklahoma.
Each portal provides a private space where residents can participate in virtual primary care appointments, remote job interviews, workforce training, educational opportunities and other online services using widely available video conferencing platforms.
“Broadband is about more than connecting people to the internet — it is about connecting people to opportunity,” Oklahoma Broadband Office Executive Director Mike Sanders said. “Whether someone needs to visit with their doctor, prepare for a new career, or gain new skills, these Community Access Portals ensure rural Oklahomans have access to the same opportunities as residents in our largest cities.”
Oklahoma Department of Libraries Executive Director Natalie Currie said public libraries have long served as places where residents can access information, technology and community resources, and said the new portals build on that role by providing secure spaces for digital services that improve quality of life.
The Kingfisher installation includes two of the planned portals. Libraries interested in participating can submit requests through the Oklahoma Broadband Office, while residents can use the agency’s online Community Access Portal Locator to see which libraries have requested a portal and track installation progress statewide.
The Community Access Portal Program is funded through the American Rescue Plan Act’s Capital Projects Fund.
