Arkansas State Broadband plans to eliminate digital divide by 2028

Representatives of the Arkansas State Broadband Office along with Howard County Judge Brent Pinkerton, met with citizens of Howard and Pike County Wednesday. 

The Arkansas State Broadband Office was created in 2019 and their goal is to eliminate the digital divide in Arkansas by 2028. The three pillars of broadband are access, affordability, digital skills, and opportunity.
State Broadband Director Glen E Howie tells what was the sole purpose of the meeting.

Howie also discussed what are the benefits of being on board with the Arkansas State Broadband Office’s plan.

According to Howie’s presentation there are a total of 269,000 locations that don’t have high-speed internet. Out of those numbers, Howard County has an estimated total of 4,700 households underserved. 2,000 of those households are eligible for assistance through the Affordable Connectivity Program.  The ARC Grant Program funds eligible projects through a competitive grant application process. The most recent awards were finalized in February 2023 and the office expects to continue the program with additional funding provided by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.