Missouri governor budgets $400M for high-speed internet

SEDALIA, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Gov. Mike Parson says he wants to use $400 million in federal funding to boost access to high-speed internet. Parson unveiled his plan Thursday at the Missouri State Fair. He wants to use federal American Rescue Plan relief funding to build the state’s broadband infrastructure. His plan still needs approval from the Legislature. Lawmakers will return to work at the Capitol in January. The governor’s office says more than 147,000 Missouri households don’t have access to high-speed internet. That equals about 400,000 residents. Most live in rural areas.