e-Community Planning
Broadband in Arkansas
To promote broadband internet education, use, and access in Arkansas, Connect Arkansas (Connect) focuses its operations in three major areas: mapping of broadband infrastructure, community strategic planning to address internet use and access, and development of public access points to promote internet use. One of the most unique components of this program is the community-by-community approach used to build and aggregate demand for broadband.
The e-Community Strategies program services are focused on facilitating: Arkansas's GIS-based Inventory Assessment of broadband infrastructure and service availability, a community strategic plan regarding broadband, the enhancement of existing programs or development of new programs to provide equipment and training, the development of points of access for broadband access, and an online presence for every Arkansas community. Connect Arkansas will collaborate with existing organizations to create an e-Community in all counties within the state. Each e-Community will be made up of prominent and interested members of the county from 8 different sectors: Agriculture, Business/Industry, Community-Based Organizations, Government, Healthcare, Education, Libraries, and Tourism/Parks & Recreation. The array of services provided under this program will improve ease of deployment for broadband by coordinating assessment efforts and managing community and service provider relationships.
Current Status
At this time, Connect is completing it's broadband pilot rollout for Arkansas, which includes development of the e-Community Strategies program in three counties in the Counties of Columbia, Desha, and Faulkner. Upon development of the strategic components for each of these communities, Connect Arkansas will be working with each of these pilot communities to procure funding to implement key strategies as identified within these strategies.