County Committee to Focus on Broadband

RISON - The Cleveland County Quorum addressed issues ranging from broadband internet service for the county, leaking roofs and settling an insurance claim involving a road grader accident during Monday night's regular monthly meeting at the Hall-Morgan Veterans Building in Rison. County Judge Jimmy Cummings told the quorum court that he would like to have a committee named by end of the month that will focus on extending fiber optic broadband service to residents and businesses in the unincorporated areas of the county. Glen Howie, director of the Arkansas State Broadband Office in Little Rock, urged the county to form such a broadband committee during his visit to Rison last month. During that meeting, Howie said the state is expected to receive more than $1 billion through the federal infrastructure bill to expand high-speed internet in Arkansas. About $280 million of that amount could come later this year, and the grant money will be distributed on a competitive basis based on the broadband plans submitted by from communities across the state. Cummings said Monday night that Howie's office sent him some information to consider when on putting the committee together. During the meeting in Rison, Howie suggested having representatives from various aspects of the community like businesses, schools and residents involved. Howie recommended eight to 12 people serve. The purpose of the committee would be developing a plan to expand fiber optic internet service into the county. That plan, in turn, would be submitted to the State Broadband Office for consideration for the first round of grant funding. Howie said during last month's gather that Cleveland County has a head start on other communities in that a local group had already put together a basic broadband plan through he Accelerate Arkansas program conducted last year. While Cummings said he would not serve on the broadband committee himself, ...