Governor Kristi Noem is highlighting her push for better internet service throughout the state.
Some rural parts of South Dakota lack fast internet service. People in the Rowena, Valley Springs and Garretson areas have slower internet than residents of nearby Sioux Falls.
But that’s changing, thanks to Governor Kristi Noem’s broadband initiative.
“It became one of my main goals when I became Governor, to get the entire state of South Dakota connected.”
Noem says she was surprised by the lack of infrastructure for residents living so close to Sioux Falls.
“You could get just a couple miles outside of popular areas and lose broadband service.”
Noem says the people in these areas struggle with everyday tasks on the internet, but times are changing.
“For years they have needed this kind of service and they didn’t have the ability to access, and it’s really changed their way of life.”
Jessica Schaap, of rural Brandon, says her internet was terrible.
“My kids had to go into town and sit in parking lots in order to do their homework.”
She says broadband is life-changing for her and her family.
Noem says telehealth, working from home and home-schooling during the pandemic shed light on the need for broadband access.
“This whole pandemic has taught us that we can live where we enjoy quality of life in these small communities if that’s where we choose to raise our kids and be successful.”
During the last several years, Noem’s initiative has spent $30 million to install broadband for more than 16,000 customers across the state.