KUAR | By Daniel Breen, Ronak Patel

State officials are looking at the best ways to provide high-speed internet access to all Arkansans. The 2022 Arkansas Rural Broadband Forum was held in Benton on Monday.

Participants at the forum mainly discussed the results of a report released last month that looks at ways to bridge the broadband internet gap. According to the report by Broadband Development Group (BDG), a firm hired by the state to help develop a plan for broadband expansion, about 110,000 homes aren’t receiving aid from the federal government to help pay for broadband.

BDG’s report found the cost to expand broadband to the 110,000 houses could cost up to $550 million. Tom Flak, a consultant with BDG, says the report looks at two ways to provide subsidies to internet service providers to bring service to areas that normally wouldn’t be profitable. One would involve the state matching 75% of their costs, while the other would involve the state ensuring the provider would make a 15% return on their investment or IRR.