Arkansas
Building Understanding through Committees
The 75 Counties Tour, conducted between February 15 and June 9, 2023, improved understanding of broadband serviceability and digital equity challenges in the state. It helped identify local stakeholders, including nonprofits and umbrella organizations, to include in the development of the state’s Five-Year Action Plan, Initial Proposal, and Digital Equity Plan. The Southwest Regional Director for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) and Digital Equity Programs accompanied the Arkansas State Broadband Office (SBO) on their 75 County Tour for one week in April 2023.
Following the 75 County Tour in Arkansas, the SBO encouraged the creation of County Broadband Committees and organized an Arkansas Broadband Leaders Network to share relevant information with these committees.
Connecting Little Rock, Arkansas
The Connecting Minority Communities (CMC) Pilot Program awarded a $3 million grant to Philander Smith College, a Historically Black University in Little Rock, Arkansas. The awardee will use these funds to modernize the college’s digital infrastructure and provide broadband service, devices, and training to help prepare the future workforce. The goal of this effort is to improve, upgrade, and expand the use of technology on campus with a focus on innovation to enhance the learning process of the students and provide more effective administrative functions for the faculty and staff.
Stakeholder Engagement on a 75 County Tour
Arkansas used BEAD and Digital Equity planning funds to execute a robust stakeholder engagement strategy, visiting all 75 counties in Arkansas. It conducted focus groups to directly engage with covered populations (aging individuals, Veterans, rural residents, etc.) and pillar-specific roundtables, such as workforce development and agriculture.
“visiting all 75 counties in Arkansas, conducting focus groups...”