News & Events
July 22, 2010: Rural technology challenges vary
www.educationweek.org
Not only are the technology challenges of rural schools far different from urban ones, but the challenges of rural schools aren’t exactly uniform themselves, three state superintendents said Wednesday at the National Rural Education Technology Summit.
In North Carolina, schools chief June Atkinson said one of her biggest battles is convincing parents and teachers that it’s OK for students to learn virtually on their own schedule and read books on computer screens instead of bound pages.
June 1, 2010: Connect Arkansas releases county-by-county broadband maps
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Connect Arkansas today announced the release of the county-by-county broadband coverage maps for all 75 Arkansas counties.
Earlier in May, the organization announced the release of their second generation of statewide broadband coverage maps, Connect Arkansas President C. Sam Walls said. This set of maps shows each county’s broadband coverage in greater detail on the county level.
May 27, 2010: Connect Arkansas releases broadband access maps
The City Wire (Fort Smith, Ark.)
Connect Arkansas has released six “maps” that show the availability of high-speed wireless, broadband and satellite Internet connections in Arkansas.
The maps are part of an ongoing process by Connect Arkansas — a component of Little Rock-based Arkansas Capital Corp. — to detail the haves and have nots with respect to broadband access.
April 29, 2010: Faster net for rural areas
Stuttgart Daily Leader
Stuttgart, Ark. — Hope for faster Internet service is on the horizon for rural residents after Connect Arkansas received a $149,563 grant to fund a study that will help develop a plan to further the range of broadband technology to communities in Arkansas, Phillips and Desha counties. Sen. Blanche Lincoln, Senate Agriculture Committee chair, awarded the funds to Connect Arkansas on behalf of the Delta Regional Authority in Helena earlier this month.
April 26, 2010: Arkansas tops in broadband competition; public funding concerns remain
The City Wire (Fort Smith, Ark.)
The first national study of broadband service finds that Arkansas has the most competitive environment among all 50 states — but at least two Arkansas-based companies have issues with taxpayer-funded competition.
The report was generated by Northfield, Minn.-based ID Insight and Craig Settles, president of Successful.com and director of Communities United for Broadband, a national grass roots effort to help communities launch their networks. The study, “The State of Broadband Competition in America – 2010,” based its rankings on market-share distribution analysis of states’ top-10 broadband providers, according to the press release.
April 21, 2010: Broadband grant to fund study
Residents of rural parts of Arkansas County frustrated by the slow speed of dial-up Internet connections may get some relief in the not-too-distant future. Connect Arkansas last Friday was awarded a $149,563 grant from the Delta Regional Authority for broadband assessment plans for Arkansas, Phillips and Desha counties.
April 20, 2010: DRA funds broadband technology study for Delta
The Delta Regional Authority has presented Connect Arkansas $149,563 to fund a study that will help develop a plan to enhance the deployment of broadband technology in Arkansas, Desha and Phillips counties.
April 17, 2010: Delta Regional Authority, Connect Arkansas team up to fund broadband in Southeast Arkansas counties
Helena-West Helena, Ark. (April 17, 2010) – Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-Arkansas) today presented a check on behalf of the Delta Regional Authority for $149,563 to Connect Arkansas to fund a study that will help develop a plan to further the deployment of broadband technology to communities in three southeastern Arkansas counties.
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March 17, 2010: Internet Connectivity, Infrastructure Focus of Arkansas Economic Issues Breakfast Series
Arkansas Business (online edition)
In just five years, broadband Internet connectivity has evolved from a luxury to a necessity, according to Michelle Stockman, vice president of Connect Arkansas. Speaking Wednesday to the Arkansas Economic Issues Breakfast Series from Acxiom’s River Market headquarters and linked via video conference to seven locations across the state, Stockman said access to the Internet is becoming increasingly ingrained into everyday life.
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March 16, 2010: FCC unveils national broadband plan
The FCC will today unveil the national broadband plan during an open commission meeting. A short executive summary can be downloaded for a quick primer before the meeting starts, or you can download the entire almost-400 page document from the FCC’s website. We’ll have more on the plan in the coming days. Stay tuned.
February 11, 2010: Connect Arkansas Remains Lead Agency for More Broadband Stimulus Money
Arkansas Business Staff
Gov. Mike Beebe’s office on Thursday confirmed that Connect Arkansas will remain the lead coordinating agency for the second notice of funds availability released by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration for broadband stimulus funds, according to a news release.
In June 2009, Beebe designated Connect Arkansas as the state clearinghouse for the first round of NTIA broadband stimulus funding.
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January 21, 2010: Sharp County looks at broadband expansion
Channel 8, KAIT, Jonesboro, Ark.
Internet access is so commonplace anymore we pretty much take it for granted.
The blazing speed we download our e-mail, music and video is the norm.
But not for every home and business.
A study is going on in three Region 8 counties– Sharp, Mississippi and Woodruff counties to determine the wants and needs for broadband.