The following summary has been condensed for length and readability. To listen to the full discussion, click . This episode is sponsored by and .
In this episode of The Broadband Bunch, host Brad Hine sits down with Edyn Rolls, Chief Strategic Officer and one of the founding members of the Oklahoma Broadband Office, during day one of Connected America 2025 at the Irving Convention Center in Texas.
What unfolds is a conversation about Oklahoma’s approach to broadband equity, inclusive infrastructure, and public policy. From administering over $500 million in federal funding to navigating the collapse of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), Edyn shares the state’s evolving strategies for connecting its rural, tribal, and underserved communities.
This conversation goes beyond funding numbers and deployment timelines. It’s about people, public service, and a commitment to ensuring that every household—urban, rural, tribal, or otherwise—has access to the digital tools they need to live, work, and thrive in today’s world.
A Strategic Foundation: $500 Million and Counting
Edyn Rolls opens the conversation by outlining Oklahoma’s major achievements to date. As one of the later-moving states in the national broadband deployment timeline, Oklahoma has taken advantage of its timing to integrate recent federal policy shifts directly into its strategy without needing to redo prior work.
The Oklahoma Broadband Office has already administered more than $500 million in broadband infrastructure funding through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) programs, including State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) and the Capital Projects Fund (CPF). Now, the focus is pivoting toward the BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment) program.
Navigating Policy Change: A Nimble Approach to BEAD Implementation
One of the biggest themes of this episode is the challenge—and opportunity—of working in a landscape where federal policy is shifting. With changes in presidential administrations come changes in funding structures, technology preferences, and cost thresholds. Edyn notes that recent federal drafts are moving toward greater technology neutrality, which may be a welcome evolution for states like Oklahoma where one-size-fits-all approaches don’t work due to geography and existing infrastructure limitations.
Because Oklahoma hasn’t yet started its subgrantee selection process, the team has an unusual opportunity: they can adjust and adapt in real time. That flexibility has allowed the office to leave space for creative, community-driven solutions that reflect Oklahoma’s unique population—home to 39 tribal nations, sprawling rural regions, and fast-growing urban centers.
Beyond Fiber: Mixed Technology Models for Complex Terrain
While Edyn is quick to affirm the state’s “fiber-first” strategy, she’s also realistic. “We all want to be like Sweden,” she laughs, referencing the country’s national fiber deployment success. “But in Oklahoma, sometimes that’s just not feasible.”
The reality is stark: Oklahoma’s topography spans ten types of terrain, including dense forests, flat plains, and even solid granite formations in Southeastern Oklahoma. In some areas, drilling for fiber is prohibitively expensive or logistically impossible. That’s why the state is exploring fixed wireless, satellite, and other hybrid connectivity solutions—especially for pilot programs targeting MDUs (multi-dwelling units) and community anchor institutions such as schools, libraries, and health clinics.
The goal is clear: universal access, regardless of the last-mile technology.
The ACP Cliff: Affordability as the Next Big Challenge
Much of the conversation turns toward affordability—a key piece of the broadband puzzle that often gets less attention than infrastructure. With the expiration of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) in 2024, many states, including Oklahoma, are scrambling to fill the gap.
Oklahoma was among the top 10 states for ACP usage, with over 300,000 households participating. The loss of that federal subsidy has had an immediate impact on both consumers and ISPs, who are now seeing a noticeable drop in service requests from those who can no longer afford it.
Edyn acknowledges the political realities of creating a state-level replacement in a red state, but emphasizes the bipartisan urgency of solving this problem. “Everyone wants access,” she says. “That’s not a red or blue issue. That’s a human issue.”
Oklahoma is now exploring ways to use its Digital Equity Act funding to stand up a local subsidy model. The state is also working closely with providers to understand their perspectives and find mutually beneficial affordability solutions that keep service sustainable while reaching low-income populations.
Tribal Communities and Inclusive Infrastructure
As a member of the Chickasaw Nation, Edyn brings a powerful and personal voice to the table. She understands how tribal communities—many of which are located in rural or geographically isolated areas—have been systematically underserved. Her approach is deeply informed by a sense of responsibility to those communities.
“I’ve seen tribes continue to get forgotten,” she says. “And now I have the opportunity to make sure they’re not.”
The Oklahoma Broadband Office is working to ensure that tribal lands are meaningfully included in BEAD and Digital Equity strategies. That means building culturally competent partnerships, prioritizing engagement, and looking beyond federal guidelines to meet the real needs of Native communities.
From Curiosity to Leadership: Edyn’s Unconventional Journey
After graduating in 2019, Edyn earned her MBA and began working in the Governor’s Office, where she became involved in grants management during the COVID-19 pandemic. At just 24 years old, she found herself as the sole staff member responsible for administering critical funding programs.
It was during this time that she first encountered broadband—not as a technology, but as a public service challenge. With no formal background in telecom, she took a leap and applied for planning grants under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), eventually becoming one of the two founding staff members of the Oklahoma Broadband Office.
Now, as Chief Strategic Officer, Edyn has helped write and administer the state’s BEAD, Digital Equity, CPF, and SLFRF applications and programs.
Her passion is evident in every sentence she speaks, especially when she talks about future generations: “I’m young enough that I’ll get to see this investment pay off. I’ll see my children and grandchildren benefit from what we’re building now.”
Words of Wisdom and What Comes Next
Reflecting on her journey, Edyn shares a piece of advice that’s stayed with her. After a chance conversation with a former Bush administration official, she was told:
“Be brave. Be bold. Do the right thing. Even when it’s hard.”
That advice has fueled her leadership—and continues to inspire her work. With evolving policy landscapes to navigate, there’s no doubt that bold leadership like Edyn’s will be key to delivering sustainable, inclusive, and future-ready broadband.
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