Broadband Committee To Be Formed

RISON - While the state's official goal is to provide access to high speed internet to every household in Arkansas by 2028, Glen Howie, director of the Arkansas State Broadband Office, said he want its done sooner than that. Howie told a group gathered at the Hall-Morgan Veterans Building in Rison last Friday that his personal goal is to see every household have access to high speed internet by 2026. Last week's meeting in Rison was Howie's 38th since beginning a campaign to hold such outreach events in each of the state's 75 counties. In addition to going over the state's broadband plans, Howie also addressed making internet service affordable and also helping people learn how to use the internet. This was Howie's second time to visit Cleveland County since becoming state broadband director last July. His previous visit came last fall when he met with a local group that was part of the Accelerate Arkansas program. Cleveland County was one of five communities in the state selected to be part of the program designed to help communities develop a long-range broadband plan. Howie said the state is expected to receive more than $1 billion through the federal infra-structure bill to expand highspeed internet in Arkansas. He said he expects to find out the exact amount sometime this summer. He noted that not all the federal money will be distributed in one lump sump, buit will be released in phases. He said Arkansas is projected to get about $280 million in the first round. The grant money will be distributed to local communities on a competitive based on the plans submitted by those plans. Part of his presentation last week was to encourage each county to organize a committee that develop a plan to expand the broadband infrastructure as well as look as ways of making in more affordable and helping people learn how to use the internet. Howie noted that Cleveland County will essentially have a head start on other communities thanks to the work that has already been…