Gov. Hutchinson Eyes $1B Ark. Surplus for Broadband
Arkansas could use part of a $1 billion surplus expected by June 30 for broadband, Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) said on a webcast news conference Friday. Other options for the state surplus include schools and tax relief, said Hutchinson: specific…
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amounts haven't been determined. The governor said state Commerce Secretary Mike Preston will work with the legislature to revise state broadband funding rules per recommendations in a state report released earlier in the week that found Arkansas can bring broadband to 110,000 unserved homes that don’t currently receive Rural Digital Opportunity Fund support (see 2204190020). Revised rules would aim to increase competition for grants and provide more accountability, Hutchinson said. Also, Arkansas plans to “strengthen” its state broadband office, he said. Praising the report’s recognition of fixed wireless, Hutchinson said “flexibility is important and necessary.” The report estimated it would be feasible to extend fiber to all 110,000 unserved locations for $500 million, said Preston. Hutchinson urged the U.S. government to expedite deployment in the federally funded areas. "Under the current federal rules, 90% of the census blocks in Arkansas are covered by the federal programs and they're exempt from our ability to accelerate those,” he said. “Providers have six years to roll out that broadband,” said the governor. "That's a long time. That's not as fast as I would like it to go."