innovate arkansas

Connect Arkansas has been approved for funding by the Arkansas Science and Technology Authority (ASTA). This approval coincides with recommendations made in a report released earlier this year by the Arkansas Broadband Advisory Council.

The Council, in its February 2008 report to the Governor and General Assembly, highlighted the urgent need for Arkansas to identify funding to complete the initial phases of the Connect Arkansas plan.

"The ASTA funding demonstrates an important commitment to the Connect Arkansas initiative," said C. Sam Walls, President of Connect Arkansas and CEO of Arkansas Capital Corporation. "It will open the door to other resources, which will share in that commitment."

This funding also paves the way for a more robust deployment of current initiatives which include: the collection/creation of preliminary maps which use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to depict broadband, or high speed internet, infrastructure; and the initiation of the e-Communities strategic planning process. The implementation of these identified initiatives and other upcoming programs will ultimately result in the creation of a competitive broadband infrastructure that will not only improve personal lives, but also the economic capabilities and prospects of all Arkansans.

Other Connectivity Initiatives

Other states are also beginning to realize the importance of creating a statewide organization focused on the creation of a broadband infrastructure. Since March 2006, 15 other states have created Councils or Authorities that could or have resulted in the creation of an entity like Connect Arkansas.

Formed before Connect Arkansas

(March 2006-February 2007):

• California
• Colorado
• Georgia

Formed after Connect Arkansas

(April 2007-Present):

• Alabama
• Hawaii
• Illinois
• Massachusetts
• South Carolina
• Virginia
• Maine
• Missouri
• New Hampshire
• New York
• Ohio
• Vermont

(This article was originally published in the June 2008 e-newsletter UPDATES. Copyright ©2008 Connect Arkansas. All rights Reserved.)