Kansas Awards $12.9M in Broadband Acceleration Grants: Which ISPs and Counties Get New Internet

Kansas has awarded $12.9 million in its sixth round of Broadband Acceleration Grants, announced October 22, 2026. With almost $14 million in matching private and local money, about $27 million will go to faster internet in 44 rural Kansas counties. IdeaTek won the largest share, and nine other providers received awards. If you live in one of these counties, ask the listed provider whether your address is in its project area. Until the build reaches you, fixed wireless or satellite is usually the fallback.

Round six winners by provider

Provider	Award	Locations	Counties
IdeaTek	$3,723,304	657	18 counties
IdeaTek (middle-mile fiber)	$2,752,385	n/a	15 counties
Home Communications	$1,961,020	246	Ellsworth, McPherson
Blue Valley Technologies	$1,790,026	154	Marshall
WTC Communications	$686,518	24	Riley, Shawnee, Wabaunsee
Rainbow Communications	$614,298	104	Atchison, Brown
The Junction Internet	$469,548	380	Labette, Montgomery
Twin Valley Communications	$337,264	157	Clay, Dickinson, Geary, Ottawa
GBT Communications	$279,445	36	Stafford
ExcellentWireless	$211,902	232	Douglas, Franklin
Southern Kansas Telephone Co.	$121,569	47	Sedgwick, Sumner

The state hasn't listed IdeaTek's individual counties in its announcement, so IdeaTek customers should check with the company directly.

How the program works

The Broadband Acceleration Grant program started in 2020 as a 10-year, $85 million effort and is funded through the Kansas Department of Transportation's Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program. With this round, the program's total investment reaches nearly $44.6 million. Projects target homes, businesses and farms where low population makes private builds hard to justify.

When will service arrive?

Build timing depends on each provider and project. The state did not give an address-by-address service date in its announcement. Contact the awarded provider for a project timeline and an address check.

What to use in the meantime

Many rural Kansas homes rely on fixed wireless from local providers until fiber arrives. Satellite is available almost everywhere: Starlink and Viasat offer satellite plans whose actual speeds depend on the address and plan, and Hughesnet is widely available. Our rural internet options guide and Kansas internet page list what serves your area.