Arkansas gets $7.79 million for broadband; total more than $111 million

Arkansas will receive $7.79 million to improve broadband connectivity and use in the state, adding to the more than $104 million in broadband expansion funding announced for the state since October 2009.

The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced Monday (Sept. 27) 56 investments totaling $190 million to support state efforts to compete in the digital economy. These are the final awards in the State Broadband Data and Development (SBDD) grant program, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (federal stimulus program).

“Each state has unique broadband challenges, and these investments will support solutions developed by the states to harness the power of technology so that local businesses can thrive and residents can enjoy a better quality of life,” Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Lawrence E. Strickling said in a statement.

Connect Arkansas is awarded $4,094,128 to expand online county government services, particularly in rural communities, allowing residents to access these services from their homes.

“For rural areas, broadband is a connection to the rest of the world, removing all barriers and allowing our communities to participate in the global economy,” C. Sam Walls, president of Little Rock-based Connect Arkansas, said in a statement. “The Internet is relevant to all areas of our lives – education, health care, small and large businesses and government. The Internet has transformed the way we get information and interact, and that is why we are excited about continuing the work of Connect Arkansas.”

Another award for $3,702,738 will help Connect Arkansas expand broadband use in the state through education.

“Connect Arkansas will use these funds to offer basic computer training and refurbished computers to qualifying families, and will feature training in business tools, including writing basic business plans, the principles of entrepreneurship, and other key skills,” noted a statement from the office of U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark.

Also, Connect Arkansas is working with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences to oversee a “comprehensive broadband-based health awareness campaign and provide hands-on training to medical facilities and health care providers,” according to the Lincoln statement. “This project proposes to train approximately 2,600 residents over the life of the project, offering approximately 53,000 hours of teacher-led training to help increase broadband adoption.”
 
It was announced Aug. 18 that UAMS would receive a $102 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the medical-related broadband expansion. The money will be used to provide substantial broadband upgrades, broadband equipment and connectivity fiber for 474 community anchor institutions, including colleges and universities, public libraries, and health care facilities.

The Aug. 18 grant award was part of a $1.8 billion health initiative included in an overall planned federal broadband investment of nearly $7 billion.

The NTIA announced in October 2009 that Arkansas would receive $2.1 million in federal stimulus dollars to map broadband access and to help expand broadband coverage in Arkansas.

Specifically, the NTIA awarded Connect Arkansas roughly $1.6 million for broadband data collection and mapping activities over a two-year period, and almost $500,000 for broadband planning activities over a 5-year period for the state. Connect Arkansas, the designated entity for the state of Arkansas, is a private nonprofit organization based in that state and managed by Arkansas Capital Corp.