Internet access part of U.S. Senate hearing in Little Rock

Broadband access in rural areas was one of the items discussed during the first Arkansas field hearing of the U.S Senate Agriculture committee.

U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., was named chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry in early September — the first female to chair the powerful committee in its 184-year history. In 2007, the U.S. reported more than 2.204 million farms with a $297.22 billion total market value of all agri products sold.

The hearing was held in the Great Hall of the Bill Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock, and was hosted by the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service. More than 150 attended the hearing, according to a report from Roby Brock with TalkBusiness.net.

Brock, who is a content partner with The City Wire, noted that the panels assembled for the hearing largely discussed agricultural issues, such as the recent rains that have ruined many crops, troubles within the timber industry due to housing and construction woes, and international market expansion for cattle, poultry and grain production.



But broadband access and its ability to transform rural communities became a focal point of discussion during the afternoon event. Sam Walls, CEO of Arkansas Capital Corp., talked about the $1.6 million just received from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to complete a map of where broadband exists in the state by the first quarter of 2010.

Walls said local, state and federal officials are working to improve access and develop plans for the best use of broadband in rural areas. He said four pilot projects are underway in Columbia, Desha, Faulkner, and Woodruff counties to engage strategic planning programs for using information technology in those communities.

He said only 38% of households in Desha County subscribe to broadband Internet, with 39% getting broadband in Columbia County. Conversely, suburban Faulkner County touts broadband household levels of 70%.



“It is statistics such as these that further illustrate the need to not just provide access, but to also ensure that our people can use it,” Walls said.

Link here for the full report from TalkBusiness.net.