Photo: (from left) Yelcot Operations Manager Shawn Lane, Izard County Judge Eric Smith and Yelcot President Sara Zimmerman
MELBOURNE, Ark. — Broadband deployment is underway to a number of locations in Izard County with the awarding of a grant from Arkansas Rural Connect.
The Yelcot Communications Izard County, Arkansas Fiber to the Home project has been $918,000 and will encompass 306 locations east and southeast of Melbourne. The project also includes the community of Guion.
With the support of Izard County Judge Eric Smith, Yelcot was able to successfully complete the project on time and start installing fiber customers in September last year. Yelcot installers continue to work hooking up customers in this new service area. Fiber to the home in these areas will allow customers the fastest internet possible, along with other Yelcot services.
In the project area, there where eight churches, 14 commercial buildings and 284 homes. Using data from the 2010 census of 2.5 individuals per home in Izard County, the project covers a population of approximately 710 people.
“We are excited about the opportunity to service these new locations in Izard County.” Yelcot President Sara Zimmerman says. “And we are committed to working with Judge Smith on extending our broadband coverage to as much of the county as possible.”
According to Izard County Judge Eric Smith, “The application process required compliance with certain conditions and since the county was in need of adequate broadband to help its citizens with education and healthcare, every effort was given to make the project happen for Izard County.”
Judge Smith and Yelcot are applying for another Arkansas Rural Connect grant to extend area broadband coverage. This proposed grant will serve 567 locations and 110 miles of fiber.
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