Arkansas Department of Commerce awards $53 million for high-speed broadband funds

The Arkansas Department of Commerce announced on Feb. 22 that more than $53 million will be awarded to 10 internet service providers in Arkansas to extend high-speed internet in eight underserved counties throughout the state. The $53 million investment, combined with $18.8 million in provider matching funds, will result in nearly 5,800 homes and businesses being connected to fast, reliable internet in Ashley, Baxter, Chicot, Clark, Columbia, Hot Spring, Logan, and Lonoke counties. The Arkansas Rural Connect grant program has awarded nearly $550 million to connect more than 129,000 unserved and underserved locations throughout Arkansas; the latest awards complete the sixth award phase for the program. Awardees and counties that will benefit from this phase of the program include:

  • CableSouth Media LLC (Ashley County) – $7.921 million
  • NEXT, Powered by NAEC (Baxter County) – $2.151 million
  • Ashley-Chicot Electric Cooperative Inc (Chicot County) – $6.621 million
  • South Central Connect LLC (Clark County) – $1.677 million
  • Four States Fiber (Columbia County) – $5.207 million
  • South Central Connect LLC/Central Arkansas Telephone Cooperative Inc. (Hot Spring County) – $4.579 million
  • Wave Rural Connect LLC/Cox Communications LLC (Logan County) – $14.252 million
  • Connect2First Internet (Lonoke County) – $10.947 million

Department of Commerce awards $53 million for high-speed broadband funds Department of Commerce awards $53 million for high-speed broadband funds