Author Archive

Brian Whitacre

Brian Whitacre is a professor and extension economist at Oklahoma State University.
State & Local

Is your state ready to handle the influx of federal funds for expanding broadband?

Rolling out billions of dollars of funding will be a challenge for states without a history of evaluating applications – or those that are brand-new to the quickly growing field of digital equity.

  • By Brian Whitacre and Christina Biedny
State & Local

COVID-19 lockdowns expose the digital have-nots in rural areas – here’s which policies can get them connected

Many state governments are taking an active role in trying to connect more rural communities to high-speed internet, whether it’s by incentivizing providers to serve rural areas or creating dedicated offices aimed at helping more people get online.

  • By Brian Whitacre and Roberto Gallardo
State & Local

Broadband internet can help rural communities connect -- if they use it

Broadband access is not enough to engage rural citizens; supporting and encouraging internet use is vital to addressing the persistent digital divide, a new study shows.

  • By Brian Whitacre