Beebe Wants Schools To Access State Fiber Optics Network

Gov. Mike Beebe is calling on lawmakers to change a state law that forbids K-12 public schools from accessing a fiber optics network used by universities and health care providers.

Act 1050 of 2011 prohibits schools from hooking on to the Arkansas Research Education Optical Network, or ARE-ON. It was passed under the influence of broadband providers, who did not want to compete with government to provide services.

“Whatever the reasons were behind the exemption passed in 2011, it has become clear that Act 1050 has impeded our progress in developing a reliable and efficient broadband infrastructure for Arkansas students,” Beebe said in a press release from his office. “Giving K-12 schools the opportunity to access ARE-ON will provide better online availability for our students and save our taxpayers money.”

The issue of public school access to the internet gained attention when education policymakers realized that many school districts did not have enough broadband capability to administer online tests as part of the Common Core State Standards. Many schools lack enough access to take advantage of online offerings for instruction. Under the Digital Learning Act of 2013, every Arkansas student entering the ninth grade must complete an online class in order to graduate.

A group of education policymakers, legislators and telecommunications providers known as the Quality Digital Learning Study (QDLS) Committee has been meeting since June 2013 as a result of the Digital Learning Act. On May 6, the committee released the Arkansas Digital Learning Study describing the state’s lack of broadband access and possible solutions, including hooking on to ARE-ON.

Jordan Johnson, spokesperson for the broadband industry’s Arkansas Broadband Coalition for Kids, has said ARE-ON would be “a redundant network” because the industry has already laid a fiber optics infrastructure that, if utilized, could serve most Arkansas students now.