Project Components

State Broadband Capacity Building: In its initial phase, Connect Arkansas, will develop a broad-based plan to address state broadband challenges. In collaboration with the state broadband advisory council, the Arkansas Health Information Exchange Council, the Arkansas State Library System, the Arkansas Literacy Councils, and pilot e-Communities, Connect Arkansas will address broadband access and adoption methods, and track broadband investment behaviors. It will develop and convene semi-annual training workshops to educate existing e-Community leaders and continue to develop and modify broadband strategies and share information on best practices. Additionally, it will conduct engineering assessments of broadband availability in each of 11 counties.

Application Usage and Development: Through collaboration with the Information Network of Arkansas, Connect Arkansas will work with 15 e-Community and local government leaders in the Mississippi River Valley Delta to develop tools to enable county governments to create web sites tailored to best suit each community and allow citizens to obtain vital government services online.

Data Collection, Integration, and Validation: This project was originally funded for broadband planning activities and two years of data collection. In September of 2010, this project was amended to extend data collection activities for an additional three years and to implement best practices.

Address File Development: In collaboration with the Arkansas Geographic Information Office (AGIO) and using the state E-911 file and U.S. Postal Service address database, Connect Arkansas will further develop a statewide address file, focusing first on unserved and underserved communities. During the three-year life of the project the AGIO will complete the data set and will have the files available for public use and download for 20 counties.