Arkansas has been approved by the U.S Department of Commerce to distribute the federal funding it was awarded to expand broadband access. In an interview with Arkansas PBS, Glen Howie, the state director for broadband, said he anticipates the grants will be disbursed to local entities.

“You look at the types of providers we anticipate applying in this program and winning grant awards you’re going to have a mix. We expect a very big from small providers to midsize to large to the electric cooperative subsidiaries that have been very active in broadband in Arkansas,” Howie said.

Last month, the Arkansas Electric Cooperative announced cooperative fiber providers have delivered broadband capability to more than one million Arkansans, according to Talk Business & Politics.

Arkansas approved by Commerce Department to distribute grants to expand broadband

by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

With energy prices affected by everything from oil and gas supplies to the transportation limitations to the Ukranian conflict and weather, it’s not easy to keep the lights on.

Buddy Hasten, president and CEO of the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, said Sunday (Jan. 15) on Talk Business & Politics that the U.S. needs an “all of the above” strategy for electricity generation and more investment in the infrastructure to deliver it.

“Every area in the world we talk about today, diversity is a good thing,” Hasten said, noting that coal plants are closing, nuclear plants are on hold, and the most rapidly developing sector of replacement fuel is gas and renewables. “If you go look at what’s being built today, primarily it’s wind and solar and those are great resources. I mean, they’re great because they don’t have a fuel cost, but they have their technical limitations. Meaning you or I don’t control where the wind blows… And then there’s just a natural, the sun rises and the sunsets.”

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/01/electric-coops-ceo-wrestles-with-ever-evolving-factors-to-maintain-reliability-affordability/