Ritter Communications awarded $44 million for rural broadband expansion projects 

Jonesboro-based Ritter Communications has been awarded eight rural broadband installation grants by the Arkansas Legislative Council totaling about $44 million.

These resources, made available through the Arkansas Rural Connect (ARC) program and funded by the American Rescue Plan, help finance projects that improve high-speed broadband internet access in state. The addition of these eight grants to the previously awarded grants brings the total amount awarded to Ritter Communications to $67 million to date.

“Ritter Communications has become a trusted leader in getting and keeping Arkansans connected to each other and to essential services,” said Ritter Communications CEO Alan Morse. “We were pleased to partner with local Arkansas communities to jointly apply for these grants, and we appreciate the confidence the State of Arkansas has placed in us to bring these projects to fruition,” he said. “We are eager to help these communities and the State bridge the digital divide and bring state-of-the-art broadband services to business and residents there.”

Ritter Communications will contribute additional funding alongside these state-funded grants to ensure extended network coverage and to fund final connections to customers’ homes and businesses.

“As bandwidth requirements and devices become more advanced and can support 10G FTTH speeds, we have built our network with that future in mind so when the time comes, we are capable of providing 10G speed directly to your home,” said Jeff Chapman RightFiber General Manager for Ritter.

The eight ARC grant areas awarded to Ritter Communications are:

• Cross County Crowley’s Ridge – $3,180,100
• Cross County West – $4,257,650
• Jefferson County Northeast – $4,263,828
• Jefferson County Northwest – $11,305,061
• Pope Appleton/Hector/Scottsville – $5,665,012
• Pope Southwest – $7,053,243
• St. Francis County North Central – $4,311,437
• St. Francis County Northwest – $3,296,875