Fact Sheet: Snapshots of Municipal Broadband
This new fact sheet highlights municipal broadband success stories from across the country and some of the many benefits the networks have brought to the communities they serve. … Read More
An Internet Network Evolves to Meet Resident Needs in Central Arkansas
The evolution of an Internet network in Conway, Arkansas. … Read More
AT&T Is Abandoning Tens of Thousands of American Households in the Deep South Who Have No Other Internet Access Option
AT&T has stopped making connections to users subscribing to its DSL Internet as of October 1st. The most conservative number of those affected by the decision will be about 80,000 households that have no other option.… Read More
Voices of 100%: Arkansas City Advances its Energy Action Plan — Episode 112 of Local Energy Rules Podcast
For this episode of the Voices of 100% series, host John Farrell speaks with Mayor Lioneld Jordan and Environmental Director Peter Nierengarten of Fayetteville, Arkansas about their 100% commitment.… Read More
Clarksville, Arkansas Plans Its First Home Connections in Hope of Supporting Local Economy
Residential broadband service is only the most recent evolution for Clarksville’s municipal fiber network, which already connects utility infrastructure as well as area businesses and community anchor institutions in the city of nearly 10,000. Home installations are due to start soon, depending on delays caused by the global Covid-19 outbreak.… Read More
19 States Restrict Local Broadband Solutions
Municipal broadband networks connect more than 500 communities across the country, but some states are trying to keep that number from growing. Nineteen states have established legal barriers or even outright bans on publicly owned networks.… Read More
Baby Step Toward Restoring Local Authority in Arkansas
A Senate bill in the Arkansas State Legislature is a small step in the right direction toward empowering municipalities to improve local connectivity. … Read More
Arkansas Considers Lifting Ban on Municipal Broadband Networks
Arkansas’ Republican Women’s Legislative Caucus — has decided that they’ll take on the issue of poor connectivity. They’ve introduced a bill that would lift the state’s ban on municipal broadband networks. … Read More
Lack of Internet Access and Poor Policy Combine to Strip Arkansans of Medicaid
People in Arkansas who depend on Medicaid for healthcare typically don’t have the option to sign-up for affordable health insurance through their jobs. Sometimes they aren’t able to find full-time positions that offer healthcare or they don’t earn enough to afford the premiums in addition to covering life expenses for their families. With so many people offline, either because they can’t afford to pay for connectivity or because they live in areas where there is no connectivity, Arkansas seems like a poor choice for mandatory online reporting of anything, especially activity that dictates eligibility for Medicare. … Read More