Broadband in Arkansas
To promote broadband internet education, use, and access in Arkansas, Connect Arkansas (Connect) focuses its operations in three major areas: mapping of broadband infrastructure, community strategic planning to address internet use and access, and development of public access points to promote internet use. One of the most unique components of this program is the community-by-community approach used to build and aggregate demand for broadband.
The e-Community Strategies program services are focused on facilitating: Arkansas’s GIS-based Inventory Assessment of broadband infrastructure and service availability, a community strategic plan regarding broadband, the enhancement of existing programs or development of new programs to provide equipment and training, the development of points of access for broadband access, and an online presence for every Arkansas community. Connect Arkansas will collaborate with existing organizations to create an e-Community in all counties within the state. Each e-Community will be made up of prominent and interested members of the county from 8 different sectors: Agriculture, Business/Industry, Community-Based Organizations, Government, Healthcare, Education, Libraries, and Tourism/Parks & Recreation. The array of services provided under this program will improve ease of deployment for broadband by coordinating assessment efforts and managing community and service provider relationships.
Current Status
Through the e-Communities six pilot counties – Desha, Faulkner, Columbia, Woodruff, Sharp and Mississippi – Connect Arkansas has learned that broadband accessibility and education are critical needs to increase the use and relevancy of the internet to Arkansans. The following reports are the result of what we’ve discovered through the pilot county process.
Desha e-Community Discovery Report (final)
Desha e-Community Strategic Plan_final
Faulkner County Discovery Report_final
Connect Faulkner County_StrategicPlan(final)
e-Community Discovery Report_Columbia