Cooperative Fiber Network Delivers Broadband Capability to Over 1 Million Arkansans

Little Rock, Ark. - Sept. 19, 2024 - The Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas are celebrating a milestone in high-speed internet broadband access throughout the state, as cooperative fiber providers have delivered broadband capability to more than 1 million Arkansans.

More than 40,000 miles of fiber have been installed collectively by 17 cooperative broadband providers. The providers include 15 local broadband cooperative providers, a cooperative middle mile fiber company and a wholesale broadband provider. Upon completion of the current cooperative fiber projects, 53,000 miles of fiber will be installed in rural areas and provide high-speed, dependable internet service to more than 1.3 million Arkansans.

According to Vernon "Buddy" Hasten, president/CEO of the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, much like the tremendous task of providing electricity to remote areas of the state, the locally owned electric cooperatives have overcome many challenges to deliver broadband services to areas that otherwise would not be served.

"The locally controlled cooperatives exist to improve the quality of life of the residents in their communities," Hasten said. "Just like electricity transformed rural America and rural Arkansas back in the 1930s and 1940s, high-speed broadband is transforming rural Arkansas today. No longer does a person have to live in a metropolitan area to have access to lightning-fast internet service. No longer do young people have to leave their communities to work for a national or international company."

He added that high-speed internet levels the playing field for rural Arkansans by providing equal access to educational services, medical services and enables small businesses to compete.

Nearly 80% of the cooperative fiber investments are self-funded without grant subsidies.