ARC reps discuss broadband needs for county

PRESCOTT – Officials from Arkansas Connect (ARC) were on hand Friday morning to let area residents know what’s coming as far as broadband internet.

Glen Howie, ARC director, said the goal is to eliminate the broadband disparities in the state by 2028. The state, he added, has had a broadband office since 2020 but its main focus has bee in infrastructure, which is an issue, but not the only one facing Arkansas residents. Three main areas ARC is focusing on is affordability, digital skills and access. “We can make Nevada County the most wired county in the nation, but if people can’t afford it there’s no point.”

The state will receive more than $1 billion to improve broadband infrastructure and accessibility. Currently, Howie said, some people have trouble getting reliable or affordable internet based on where they live and this is a complicated issue as some can get decent internet on one side of a road while their neighbor across the street can’t. ARC, he added, can’t tell providers what to charge, but it can help make internet more affordable. He pointed out those providers offering a lower price for their customers are more likely to get funded than those who don’t.

Additionally, low income households and homes with students in high school or college could qualify for a $30 a month discount. Howie said 600,000 people in Arkansas qualify for this discount but only 130,000 have enrolled. “We need to do a better job letting people know about the program.”

Another issue is skills. Approximately 274,000 in the state ages 18-64 don’t have the skills to use a computer, and this doesn’t include those 65 and older. “We have a lot of work to do,” he said.

In Nevada County, there are 2,100 locations needing access or upgrading and 1,650 of them qualify for the discount program but aren’t enrolled. Part of the problem on enrolling, said Laurie Ringler, project manager, is the application process isn’t streamlined and the client is responsible for letting their internet provider know they qualify for the discount. The question was raised about having to choose the lowest internet option to qualify for the discount. Ringer said this isn’t the case and changes have been made to the application process to make it easier. People can also reapply. In fact, those on welfare or SNAP programs are automatically recertified once they’ve applied and some will be required to recertify annually. Households with children in school on the free and reduced lunch program are automatically qualified and need to apply.

Arkansas will receive $1.4 billion dedicated for the broadband buildup, Howie said, and it will cost around $800 million to get broadband to everyone. The remaining $600 million must be used for broadband projects only. Some states, he added, will wind up with a deficit because of the federal formula used, but Arkansas should have a surplus.

This year, he said, is a planning year and the ARC has given itself five years to complete its goal. Plans must be sent to the federal government and include those in rural areas, of ethnic minority, with language barriers, disabled, veterans, inmates about to get out of prison, those 60 and over and those in extreme poverty making less than 150 percent  of the federal poverty rate. According to Howie, 87.4 percent of the people in the state fall into one of these categories.

Meetings will be held across the state, but a great deal of when work will begin depends on when the federal government releases the funds. The ARC, he said, wants to work with counties and have counties develop plans showing what residents want and need. The idea is to empower the people and get feedback so it can be incorporated into the overall plan. The local committee should consist of city and county officials, representatives from the library, health care, agriculture, non-profit and concerned citizens. “We want to get information on affordability and skills workshops. This is a collaborative project.”

New broadband maps of the state will be drawn up and released showing the location of broadband in all locations. Howie said the ARC’s goal is to start construction in 2026 and be done by 2028. “We want you to hold us responsible.”