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Check dots for internet availability

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Earlier today, the Arkansas State Broadband Office released the state’s new state broadband map. The new state broadband map can be accessed on the office’s website at broadband.arkansas.gov, or by clicking here. In conjunction with its release, the office will launch the state’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) mapping challenge process on Wednesday, March 20. For the first time in Arkansas’ history, the state’s new broadband map will be able to be challenged for inaccuracies in advance of the state awarding additional broadband infrastructure grants.
This months-long process will enable stakeholders in Arkansas to challenge the state’s broadband map and the levels of internet service reported at homes and businesses throughout the state. Stakeholders will be able to challenge data provided by the map but must submit evidence of the inaccuracies.
Under federal BEAD program regulations, eligible challengers in this process include units of local government, nonprofit organizations, and internet service providers. To register as an eligible challenger, please click here.
In addition to eligible challengers, the Arkansas State Broadband Office has worked diligently to allow everyday Arkansans the ability to have their voices heard. To suggest a correction to the new state broadband map, everyday residents should access the Internet Performance Data Collection Tool, available here. The state’s mapping challenge portal system, which went live on Wednesday, March 20, will allow for units of local government and nonprofit organizations to submit challenges on behalf of everyday Arkansans.
The new state broadband map and challenge portal system can be accessed on the Arkansas State Broadband Office’s website at broadband.arkansas.gov. A Challenge Process Resource Guide and additional resources are also available, including a new and improved speed test application.
The tentative timeline for Arkansas’ BEAD mapping challenge process is below (timeline may be adjusted due to volume of challenges):
• March 12, 2024: New state broadband map released; user guide and resources posted online; challenge portal registration begins
• March 20, 2024: Challenge portal opens; challenges accepted for 30 days
• April 19, 2024: Challenge rebuttals accepted for 30 days
• May 19, 2024: Challenge adjudication begins
• June 17, 2024: Challenge process concludes
The new state broadband map, challenge portal system, and all other resources are available on the Arkansas State Broadband Office’s website at broadband.arkansas.gov.
For more information and to learn how to participate in this process, please contact the Arkansas State Broadband Office via email at broadband@arkansas.gov.

The Nevada County Broadband Committee formed July 21, 2023. It works with ARConnect, The Arkansas State Broadband Office, which is administering the $1 billion allocated to Arkansas from the BEAD Program. This is the internet construction portion of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 118-58)

(PDF Document)

of November 2021 working toward High-Speed Internet for All.

The committee wants to assure that all of Nevada County has or will have:

  • Internet Infrastructure and Access,
  • Affordable Internet, and
  • Internet and Digital Skills Education.

This web site is intended to provide information and resources for residents of Nevada County, Arkansas.

Check Your Dot!
The Arkansas Broadband Office, ARConnect, has a map.
The map shows internet service available at each location and is the guideline for awarding BEAD funding in 2024 to build internet access.

  • If your location is marked with a gray “dot” (2,310 in Nevada County):
    • At least one ISP has told the Government that at least 100/20 bandwidth is available at this location. If that speed is not really available, begin a challenge with the speed and latency test suite on the ARConnect site (described below on the “ARConnect Speed Test” button). If at least 100/20 speed is available at your location from an ISP other than the one you use, and you want true broadband speed, ask your ISP for true broadband speed or consider changing ISPs.
    • If the ISP for that location has quoted an installation charge above the “standard” charge, then create a challenge (and provide the quotation for those charges).
      For example, the ISP wants to charge to build from the road to your house, perhaps along a long drive.
    • Locations with at least 100/20 are not eligible for additional funding, but if you already have that much bandwidth you are probably not reading this web site!
  • If your location is marked with a red “dot” (203 in Nevada County) or a blue “dot” (614 in Nevada County):
    • There is no need for you to continue in this “challenge” process.
    • No internet service provider has told government agencies they provide at least 100/20 service to this location.
    • Funding will be granted to a qualified ISP to build broadband to your location. Newly-funded projects will have until the end of 2027 to provide service. We certainly hope it’s sooner!
  • If your location is marked with a green “dot” (2,648 in Nevada County):
    • Your location is currently funded for construction of broadband to your location. In Nevada County, there is funding to
      • South Central Connect for a few locations in eastern Nevada County through a “CAFII Auction” and to much of the central and southwest portions of the county through “RDOF”, some of which is active since the map was finalized.
      • Walnut Hill Telephone Company for the southwest corner of the county, specifically south of Nevada 3 / Arkansas 32 and west of Nevada 17, through “ARConnect – ARPA”, some, if not all, of which is active since the map finalized.
      • Century Tel of Northwest Arkansas for the southeast corner of the county, specifically east of Nevada 17 and south of Nevada 8, through “RDOF”. The Committee has been unable to contact Centuty Tel for a progress report.
    • If the ISP will build internet to your location with the funds already granted, there is no need for you to continue in this “challenge” process.
    • If you have reason to believe the funded ISP is not going to build to your location, please contact the Broadband Committtee to create a challenge.
    • Most currently-funded projects are to provide internet service by the end of 2025. We certaintly hope it’s sooner!
  • If there is no “dot” for your location (unknown number in Nevada County):
    • Since funding for these BEAD grants is based on FCC locations, and it’s too late to challenge FCC locations in time for this set of grants (we have some choice words about that), there is no BEAD funding to build broadband to your location. See the FCC Availability and Funding Awarded maps to create a challenge for your location.
    • Hopefully, your location is close enough to an ISP’s service area that they will extend broadband to your location. List of ISPs in Nevada County.
  • Data on the map is several months old.
    • The map does not include South Central Connect’s symmetrical gigabit speed service inside Prescott city limits.
    • The map does not show Cablelynx’s increase to gigabit download speeds in Prescott and Emmet.
    • The map does not show WalnutHill Communication’s fiber service in the Southwestern portion of Nevada County.

ARConnect Speed Test
Do these tests if your Internet Service Provider (ISP) promises (on your internet bill) speeds of at least 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload, but does not deliver that speed.
Opens in new browser window. On that page, tap “Start the Test”.
Overview:

  • Please begin the tests today! You must begin no later than April 16, 2024 in order to complete the requirement before the challenge phase ends on April 18, 2024.
  • If you do not subscribe to at least 100/20, there is no need to perform these speed tests.
    If you need the “broadband” speed of at least 100/20, you should ask your current ISP for faster speed. If your current ISP does not have the speed, and another provider does, you should consider changing ISPs. If no ISP serves your location with “broadband” speed, see the “More Information” section, below.

Required:

  • Please conduct several (minimum of three) speed tests over the next few days at different times of the day.
  • During at least one of your speed test sessions, please answer the questions. They are important to the grant process.
  • During at least one of your speed tests, upload a copy of your internet bill that shows the promised speed.

Technically:

  • Tests are preferred from a wired device, such as a computer connected with an ethernet cable.
  • If you use a mobile device, be sure you are connected to your home WiFi instead of your cell phone carrier’s mobile data. Be very close to your WiFi point (where the antennas are located).

The Questions Asked

  • Your real name is preferred (see the “Privacy” note, below). However, it’s OK to enter something like “Resident”.
  • An accurate address is critical. Enter your address manually or allow your location to be shared.
    A speed test without an address is essentially useless, since grant money is awarded based on unserved or underserved locations.
  • Please enter your e-mail address at the end of the test. You’ll receive reminders to conduct additional tests and be provided with more information.
  • Privacy: The Arkansas Broadband Office has stated “ARConnect will not publicly post any personally identifiable information (PII) or proprietary information, including subscriber names, street addresses and customer IP addresses.”
    With that said, be aware that you are challenging the data your current ISP has provided to the government. The challenge must include an accurate address for the location. Your ISP knows the name associated with that address.

Then What?

  • If you complete the required number of tests and provide the documentation requested, you will not be creating a challenge, but that information will be forwarded to the persons with the authority to challenge Nevada County locations.
  • When a challenge is successful, additional funding will be available to build better internet to the location.

Arkansas is one of only a few states providing individuals with a way to participate in the challenge process.

Summary:

  • Any location that does not have at least 100/20 broadband internet has until the end of the “challenge” process to confirm the map is coded accurately.
  • A qualified Internet Service Provider (ISP) will receive funding to build service to under-served and unserved locations.
  • If a location without broadband internet access is not designated to receive funding, it may be a very long time before that location has internet access!

By Federal Law, only certain persons are allowed to make the official “challenge”. The Nevada County Broadband Committee can be the liaison between an individual and those persons.

If you would like to view the meetings of the Arkansas Broadband Office, visit: https://www.youtube.com/@ARConnectASBO