Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson has created a 24-member task force of industry experts and broadband consumers to work towards expanding high-speed Internet access and adoption across the state.

The secretaries of agriculture and commerce will also participate, while state legislative leaders will appoint four members to serve on the task force.

Another statewide program, Connect Kansas, is already working toward mapping statewide broadband access as part of the $174 million the state has received in broadband stimulus funding. Read more about the project here.

Here is a look at three more statewide broadband projects that have been recently announced as part of the national broadband stimulus:

Arizona: A $10.4 million project is being launched to provide broadband access to tribal communities. The San Carlos Apache Telecommunications Utility, Inc. (SCATUI) will head the project, which is expected to expand high-speed Internet access to 6,000 people, 20 businesses and 50 community institutions. "The expansion of this crucial infrastructure will bring broadband and telephone services and provide much-needed support for homes, businesses, medical facilities and emergency personnel," said Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick. "This project will create jobs, attract new businesses and create a 21st century foundation for future growth." Read more about the project here.

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As part of the latest round of national broadband stimulus funding, more than 1,000 health centers across the country are set to benefit from ehanced efforts at electronic medical records and more accessible services. “As broadband has become more widely deployed and affordable, it has enabled things to happen,” Eric Bozich, vice president of product management at Qwest Business Markets said, according to Healthcare IT News. “It has finally reached that point of critical mass where the experience is high quality enough that people are willing to accept and adopt it. Ease of use is allowing practices, hospitals and clinics to manage and deploy telehealth in a way that is reasonable. All those things are coming together to create an environment that is realistic, affordable and practical.” Read more here.

Here is a look at some of the statewide Health IT programs benefitting from the new round of public-private partnerships:

California: Cal eConnect, the new organization overseeing California's $38.8 million health care exchange, has hired Carladenise Edwards as its new CEO. Edwards previously serve as Health IT coordinator for Georgia and as Health IT adviser to former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. "I am delighted to have the opportunity to be part of the largest health information exchange effort in the country." Read more about the project here.

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We’ve been telling you about some of the 66 new state broadband projects that were announced last week as part of the national broadband stimulus. The various efforts are focused on everything from building up broadband infrastructure, to increasing access, providing education opportunities and creating thousands of new jobs. Here is a look at a few more of those projects getting underway:

Illinois: Sen. Dick Durbin announced a $7.4 million project with the Shawnee Telephone Company that will be used to expand broadband access in underserved and low-income areas. “Durbin's office says the company provides services in Gallatin, Hardin, Johnson, and Pope counties. The project is expected to create about 100 jobs and benefit 3,100 residents, 438 businesses, and 35 community institutions, like libraries and police departments.” Read more here.

Kansas: Three projects totaling $11 million will be used to expand high-speed Internet access in rural parts of the state: “The biggest award is $6.6 million to H&B Communications Inc. to provide high-speed broadband service to rural communities around Claflin and Ellinwood in central Kansas. In northeastern Kansas, a Holton telephone company is getting $3.3 million to put fiber lines for broadband in six towns. And South Central Wireless Inc. will get $1.1 million to build the infrastructure for voice and high-speed services to residents and businesses in the town of Attica.” Read more here.

Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas have been awarded $28.6 million in new grants from the Commerce Department to build out more than 680 miles of fiber in 35 communities. Allegiance Communications said the four-state project would bring broadband access to an estimated 12,700 homes and 230 businesses, along with upgrading the high-speed Internet capabilities of public safety organizations.

Read the Broadband Breakfast story here.

In the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy famously says, "Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore," after being transported to a fantastic new world. Today's Kansas City Star looks at how the town of Buhler, Kansas has found a way to deliver its own residents to a new world of economic and educational opportunities by bringing them high-speed Internet access. Local Internet service provider IdeaTek has helped fill the gap, helping Buhler's businesses compete online and connecting homes to education, healthcare and commercial outlets previously unavailable:

“It allows us to operate as if we’re just down the street from you no matter where you are,” said Gary Wolfer, the company’s director of technical services.

Such is the power of bringing high-speed Internet to rural America — a difference that can dramatically level the playing field between city and countryside, that can deliver specialized medicine to places that can’t recruit medical specialists, that can open university instruction to people who can’t come to a campus.

Read the full story here.