Broadband 'Listening' Meeting Set For Tuesday

KINGSLAND - The Arkansas Connectivity Coalition will be conducting a "listening session" beginning at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 25, at Kingsland City Hall to get insight on how and why people use the internet, including challenges they experience and the resources that would be helpful to them in the future. Dr. Hunter Goodman, assistant professor for Community, Workforce and Economic Development at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service, and Tabatha Duvall, program associate for Community, Workforce and Economic Development, will be leading the meeting. Both presenters are part of the Arkansas Connectivity Coalition that is working with the Arkansas State Broadband Office (ASBO) to put together the Arkansas Digital Skills and Opportunity Plan. ASBO is in the process of creating a five-year action plan to provide access to digital skills, training and education across the state and enhance overall quality of life. Simultaneously, the State Broadband Office is leading an outreach plan to better understand the state's "digital divide," which refers to areas and communities that do not have the same access to the internet and (continued from page 1) technology as other areas of the state. Goodman said these ongoing projects have the potential to create opportunities for advancing education, healthcare, agriculture, the economy, and quality of life in currently underserved areas. To ensure the ASBO engages all segments of the population throughout this process, Goodman said her team is facilitating focus groups to collect additional information on how and why people use the internet, including challenges they experience and the resources that would be helpful to them in the future. Those with online access can pre-register for the meeting by going to https://forms.gle/xpkPxxfKyDmT6dPL8 “Building out broadband access to every single home and business in the state of Arkansas is only one piece of the puzzle,” said Glen…