AARP Oklahoma Partners with OSU Extension to Bring Digital Hotspot Loan Program to Rural Communities

Reliable internet access is essential for staying connected, especially for seniors. It enables them to maintain relationships with friends and family, access healthcare resources, participate in community events, and utilize other vital services. AARP Oklahoma is proud to continue to support a library hotspot program to help Oklahomans stay connected.

Since 2017, AARP Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University’s Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources and Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service have partnered to provide internet hotspots to public libraries. The mobile hotspots are available for check-out to library patrons, similar to traditional books, and can connect up to 10 devices. The 2024 grant from AARP Oklahoma for OSU's hotspot program brings the number of rural libraries now involved in the program to 33. The three communities added this year are Bristow, Yale, and Shattuck.

Oklahoma State University professor Dr. Brian Whitacre said Oklahoma ranks below the national average, with only 69% of households with a wired internet connection. He said the three towns receiving hotspot support this year were even more significant, with Yale at 47%, Bristow at 57%, Shattuck at 65% wired connectivity rates.

“Oklahomans and their families deserve reliable internet access. Unfortunately, many rural areas still lack connectivity in their homes,” said Sean Voskuhl, AARP Oklahoma state director. “Through our partnership with Oklahoma State University’s Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources and the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, we are bringing digital connectivity to rural communities. This access connects them to essential resources like healthcare, entertainment, and job and education opportunities, while enhancing their social connections.”

Whitacre thanked AARP Oklahoma’s continued support of the hotspot program and said the program’s impact is far-reaching with an estimated 3,900 Oklahomans using the hotspots annually. “This program is a huge benefit to individuals without reliable home connections,” he said. “Many of us take for granted all of the things we do online, including paying bills, staying connected with loved ones, or helping our kids with school.”

Bristow Library Executive Director Heather Hutto said the extremely popular hot spots truly change residents’ lives and shared patrons’ stories about the value of the devices. One person told her, “There is still no internet where we live. The hot spot program is a lifeline. My younger kids can complete their school, and my daughter can attend college classes, all thanks to the access we get with the hot spot. Another person said, “Access to these hot spots has empowered my local business to stay open when we faced chronic internet failures locally.”

For more information about OSU’s hotspot program, contact Dr. Brian Whitacre, (405) 744-9825, or brian.whitacre@okstate.edu.