The Arkansas Department of Commerce announced Wednesday more than $53 million awarded to 10 internet service providers in underserved counties the state to extend high-speed internet services.
The award completes the sixth award phase of the Arkansas Rural Connect broadband infrastructure grant program designed to expand the broadband footprint in rural Arkansas Communities. NEXT, Powered by NAEC is will receive $2,151,269 from the grant.
The eight projects announced Wednesday, along with 14 approved last December by the Arkansas Legislative Council, were funded through the American Rescue Plan’s Capital Projects Fund. Through the fund, the state was allocated $158 millions for internet-releated projects. Demonstrating the need for continued broadband expansion, the Arkansas State Broadband Office received nearly $328 millions in grant requests.
The Arkansas Rural Connect grant program is administered by the Arkansas State Broadband Office, housed within the Department of Commerce. With this announcement, the program has awarded nearly $550 million to connect more than 129,000 unserved and underserved locations throughout Arkansas.
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders states “ensuring that Arkansas families have access to reliable, affordable, high-speed internet is one of the highest priorities of my administration.”
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