Medicine Lodge receives high-speed smart pole, state leaders hope to address rural digital divide [Video]

MEDICINE LODGE, Kan. (KSNW)—Many Kansas rural communities lack high-speed internet. On Tuesday, crews installed a “smart pole” in Medicine Lodge to help tackle that digital divide.

The smart pole is just the brink of what the state’s director of broadband development said needs to happen to bring rural Kansas up to speed with the rest of the state.

The smart pole will provide free high-speed internet to those within a 10-mile radius.

“Making sure the folks in the very remote areas have the opportunity to connect,” said SCTelcom CEO Carla Shearer.

The pole was installed in partnership with the school district to help everyone access the internet.

“This is just a trial, so we can make sure that all the technology is cooperating, as expanding to as far north as Reno County, into the Pratt, Iuka areas, corn fields in Pratt County,” said Shearer.

Since 2020, the state has given …