Project Profile: Arkansas Rural Connect (ARC) Broadband Project, Arkansas

Arkansas Fiber Expansion Project

Arkansas

State of Arkansas

Joint Development, Private Contribution, Right-of-Way Use Agreements

Telecommunications: Fiber Broadband/High-Speed Internet

The State of Arkansas is partnered with Windstream to deliver seven fiber broadband expansion projects across seven Arkansas counties. Construction on the first of the seven fiber broadbands in Grant County began in September 2021, and is expected to be completed in the spring of 2022. Other counties in the overall project include Carroll, Faulkner, Perry, Searcy, Sevier and Van Buren. Windstream will deliver its Kinetic product, a gigabit-speed internet service, to over 15,100 homes and small businesses in rural areas.

Currently, Arkansas lacks fiber broadband access with 27 percent of residents not having adequate broadband infrastructure and 54 percent live in areas with only one internet provider. Fiber networks provide the fastest and most reliable internet services to meet rural residents’ needs. In August 2019, Governor Asa Hutchinson announced the Arkansas Rural Connect Broadband Grant Program to bring high-speed broadband service to rural communities.

Cities, counties, and unincorporated communities of over 500 people, at least 200 of which lack broadband coverage. No more than 80 percent of the population is served by broadband are eligible to apply for the grant program with their internet service provider. However, communities can partner together to meet the eligibility criteria and apply together. The grant reimburses costs for broadband deployment, rental, depreciation, equipment costs, wages, and engineering costs.

The Rural Connect Broadband Grant Program will provide up to 30 grants with a maximum size of $75,000 each. The grants require approval from either the Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee. The Federal Communications Commission and the U.S. Department of Agriculture are only two of the Federal programs recognizing the need for fiber broadband in Arkansas’ rural neighborhoods

$63.5 million

The project is funded by $46.3 million in state grants by the Federal American Rescue Plan Act and administered by the Arkansas Rural Connect Broadband Grant Program. Windstream will invest $17.2 million in capital. The Federal Coronavirus Aid, relief, and Economic Security Act awarded nearly $5 million in Arkansas Rural Connect grants to Windstream.

Public-Private Partnerships

Windstream

Windstream

N/A

September 2021 – Spring 2022

Fully funded

Public-Private Partnership to build fiber networks to the most rural communities in America. The State of Arkansas partnered with Windstream to address the lack of high-speed internet in rural areas in Arkansas. Through Federal grants and private funding, the project will deliver gigabit-speed internet service to over 15,100 homes and small businesses in rural areas.

Increased educational, healthcare, and economic opportunities that lead to enhanced service access and quality of life.

The Arkansas Rural Connect (ARC) program was established in 2019 and allows service providers to partner with government entities to apply for broadband grants. The program was first supported by a combination of state money and allocations from Arkansas’ share of funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

• Benton Institute for Broadband & Society – Arkansas Announces $64 Million Fiber Broadband Expansion Plan with Windstream
• Arkansas Democrat Gazette – State program created to lift rural broadband
• Arkansas State Broadband Manager’s Report
• Business Wire – Windstream, State of Arkansas Partner on $64 Million Fiber Broadband Expansion
• Telecompetitor – Arkansas Taps Windstream to Expand Broadband with 46 Million in Funding

Scott Morris
Senior Advisor, Corporate Affairs - Windstream
501-748-5342
scott.l.morris@windstream.com