$53M in Broadband Grant Money Flowing Again
Eight projects had been on hold after the governor abolished a steering committee for the funds. read more >
Eight projects had been on hold after the governor abolished a steering committee for the funds. read more >
An Aug. 22 Arkansas Business article failed to include an important piece of information about federal broadband grants. read more >
He comes to the state Commerce Department from "one of the most highly regarded broadband offices in the country.” read more >
It's being funded in part by federal pandemic aid dollars through the state-run Arkansas Rural Connect grant program. read more >
The state will receive $100 million in federal funding “right off the bat” for broadband deployment through the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act that President Joe Biden signed on Nov. 15. read more >
Construction is on pace to be completed and residential customers connected by the middle of next year. read more >
The governor says it will support new jobs and spark economic growth. read more >
Money to upgrade broadband infrastructure is being spread across Arkansas at a furious pace after the COVID-19 pandemic underscored the depths of the digital divide and delivered federal dollars to address it. read more >
Many of Arkansas’ current infrastructure projects require long-term plans that can be modified as needed, four industry professionals said during the “RechARge Arkansas: Regional Infrastructure Update” webinar. read more >
Contractors are in high gear because federal funds must be used by Dec. 30. read more >
The Arkansas Department of Commerce says all companies, including electric cooperatives and their subsidiaries, capable of deploying broadband to rural Arkansas are now eligible to apply for an Arkansas Rural Connect (ARC) grant. read more >
The cities of Hamburg (Ashley County), Hazen (Prairie County) and Earle (Crittenden County) recently received Arkansas Rural Connect grants of $2 million, $1.9 million and $1.8 million, respectively, for broadband deployment projects. read more >
The Arkansas Department of Commerce announced Thursday that it has awarded the city of Cotton Plant (Woodruff County) a $497, 001 Arkansas Rural Connect grant to deploy fixed wireless internet there. read more >
The Arkansas Department of Commerce announced Wednesday that it has awarded the city of Magazine (Logan County) a $1.03 million Arkansas Rural Connect grant to deploy fiber internet there. read more >
The Arkansas Department of Commerce gives the city of Lonoke a $2 million grant to deploy fiber internet there. read more >
The city of Ozark, in partnership with Pinnacle Telecom, has received a $1.9 million Arkansas Rural Connect grant to deploy fiber internet to homes there. read more >
Fairfield Bay, in partnership with Arkansas Telephone Co., has received a $1.57 million Arkansas Rural Connect grant to deploy fiber internet to homes there. It’s the first such grant to be awarded. read more >
The coronavirus pandemic, which has pushed much of daily living online, highlights Arkansas’ status as a laggard in broadband deployment and illustrates the digital divide between broadband haves and have-nots. read more >
High-speed broadband has become almost as essential to civilized living as electricity or safe drinking water, products provided for the most part by public utilities, products that, with occasional exceptions, are provided relatively cheaply and reliably. read more >
Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Tuesday announced "Arkansas Rural Connect," a new $25 million grant program within the Arkansas State Broadband Office he established last month. read more >
