Oologah internet provider to offer broadband to 678 homes in Justus-Tiawah area
Oct. 5—High-speed broadband will become available to 678 homes and businesses around Justus-Tiawah by the end of 2026.
Atlas Broadband, a service provider based in Oologah, will supply these customers internet with 100 Mbps download and upload speeds. According to the Federal Communications Commission, high-speed internet has a download speed of at least 100 Mbps and an upload speed of at least 20 Mbps.
Brett Williston, Atlas' executive director of business development, said Atlas serves about 4,000 mostly rural customers in Craig, Mayes, Nowata, Osage, Rogers, Tulsa and Washington counties. Atlas currently serves customers in the Oologah and Inola areas.
Including the 678 Rogers County customers, Atlas is expanding broadband to 2,204 homes and businesses.
The $17.6 million project is being funded by an Oklahoma Broadband Office grant, using American Rescue Plan Act money. The office also has distributed grants to Cox Communications and Premier Holdings LLC to bring high-speed internet to Rogers County.
"Sustainable economic development requires a talented and educated workforce, which will only happen when the appropriate infrastructure exists," Williston said. "This partnership between Atlas Broadband and the Oklahoma Broadband Office will address these challenges and help level the playing field for these rural communities."
Williston said the broadband office selected Atlas to expand broadband in Justus-Tiawah through a competitive bidding process. The office selected the provider that would service each underserved area based on which provider could serve the most homes for less than $10,000 each.
The office awarded Cox a $5.4 million grant and Premier a $2.5 million grant. Combined with $1 million from Rogers County and a further $2 million from Cox, District 3 Commissioner Ron Burrows said about 98% of Rogers County should have high-speed internet in the next two years.
About 77.68% of Rogers County homes and businesses have high-speed internet; in August of 2024, about 72% did.
Williston said customers in the Justus-Tiawah area who want to know if their home or business will receive broadband can call Atlas at (918) 272-1640. He said there's no map available to the public yet, but Atlas can see if a specific address will be covered.
Households around Justus-Tiawah that make less than or equal to 200% of the federal poverty level could receive Atlas internet for as little as $30 a month, Williston said.
The federal government gave lower-income households discounts on their internet service through the Affordable Connectivity Program, but it lapsed in June. But because the expansion is being paid for with federal ARPA funds, Atlas can provide a discount.
"Since the feds took away that program, we stepped in and said, 'No, we're going to help you have a low-cost program,'" Williston said.
