Arkansas launches $13 million school broadband upgrade

As school broadband access becomes critical for student success, states are beginning to evaluate their broadband infrastructure to determine if upgrades and modernization are necessary. Arkansas started investing in technology for its K-12 system in the early 1990s through the development of the Arkansas Public School Computer Network. The network linked schools together, but in 2015, broadband internet connectivity is lacking. Recently elected Gov Asa Hutchinson (R-AR) recognized a need for its students to get connected and the state is now launching an upgrade -- totaling about $13 million annually -- to its fiber infrastructure that will bolster education efforts and provide a stepping stone for further broadband development in the state.