ARConnect

08/05/2026

As Arkansas students kick off a new school year, internet access shouldn't be a barrier to learning. 📚💻 We're thrilled to highlight 's low-cost offer tool: https://www.everyoneon.org/find-offers.

After going to the web address, you’ll enter your zip code and click on any qualifying information. You may be able to find low-cost internet service offers and discounted device offers.

Let's equip our future leaders with the tools they need for success!

Find low-cost internet and device offers in your area

08/04/2026

07/23/2026

The Lifeline program is an Federal Communications Commission program that provides discounts on phone or internet service for qualified households.

If you are interested in discounted internet service, visit LifelineSupport.org or call (800) 234 -9473 to learn more about the discounts, eligibility, and how to apply.

If you live on qualifying Tribal lands, you can get a monthly discount of up to $34.25 on phone, internet, or bundled service.

07/20/2026

The Arkansas State Broadband Office has executed a BEAD grant agreement with SpaceX, placing Arkansas among the earliest states in the country to execute an agreement to secure Starlink services.

Through this agreement, Starlink's low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite technology will help connect more than 11,700 locations across Arkansas, impacting over 29,000 Arkansans through a total investment of $32.7 million.

This project includes an $8.9 million BEAD grant and more than $24.2 million in matching funds, demonstrating the power of public-private partnerships to reach some of the most difficult-to-serve locations in the State.

➡️ 11,700+ locations to be connected
➡️ 29,000+ Arkansans impacted
➡️ $8.9 million BEAD grant
➡️ $24.2 million private match
➡️ $32.7 million total investment

We’ve made historic progress, and we’re just getting started. 🚀

Take a look at Starlink’s locations on our program dashboard here: https://broadband.arkansas.gov/bead/

Arkansas’ BEAD Pre-Registration Process is Now Open! The Pre-Registration Process will be hosted through the same online portal that hosted the BEAD Mapping Challenge Process.

07/20/2026

The Arkansas State Broadband Office has announced the ex*****on of a BEAD grant agreement with Amazon Leo, making Arkansas the first state in the nation to execute a BEAD grant agreement with Amazon.

This project will bring high-speed, low-latency broadband service to more than 1,700 locations across Arkansas, impacting over 4,200 Arkansans through an investment of approximately $2.4 million.

From the beginning, our goal has been simple: connect every eligible home, business, and community anchor institution as efficiently and responsibly as possible. This agreement demonstrates Arkansas' commitment to an all-technology approach that prioritizes results over ideology and outcomes over preferences.

Most importantly, it means more Arkansas families, students, and small businesses will have access to the tools they need to self-determine their success in the twenty-first century digital economy.

➡️ 1,700+ locations
➡️ 4,200+ Arkansans impacted
➡️ $2.4 million total investment
➡️ First state in the nation to execute a BEAD grant agreement with Amazon

We’ve made historic progress, and we’re just getting started. 🚀

Take a look at Amazon Leo’s locations on our BEAD program dashboard here: https://broadband.arkansas.gov/bead/

Arkansas’ BEAD Pre-Registration Process is Now Open! The Pre-Registration Process will be hosted through the same online portal that hosted the BEAD Mapping Challenge Process.

07/16/2026

Today is Artificial Intelligence Appreciation Day, and it’s a great opportunity to learn some new skills that are super useful right now! By teaming up with Google, Arkansas residents can get free access to a bunch of classes, like Prompting Essentials and AI Essentials. Check out more details and sign-up here: https://commerce.arkansas.gov/arkansas-grow-with-google/

07/15/2026

The Arkansas State Broadband Office has executed a BEAD grant agreement with Windstream to deploy fiber broadband infrastructure across nine Arkansas counties, including Bradley, Dallas, Faulkner, Grant, Howard, Independence, Jefferson, Montgomery, and White.

Through these projects:
➡️ 1,400+ homes and businesses will gain access to high-speed internet
➡️ 3,400+ Arkansans impacted
➡️ Total investment exceeds $6.6 million

Every agreement signed is another step toward shovels in the ground.

Thank you to the team at Windstream for their partnership and commitment to investing in Arkansas and serving our communities.

You can view Windstream’s locations on our program dashboard here: https://broadband.arkansas.gov/bead/

Arkansas’ BEAD Pre-Registration Process is Now Open! The Pre-Registration Process will be hosted through the same online portal that hosted the BEAD Mapping Challenge Process.

07/14/2026

The Arkansas State Broadband Office has executed a Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) grant agreement with Decatur Telephone Company (Rally Networks) to deploy fiber broadband infrastructure in Benton County.

Through this project:
📍 275 homes and businesses will gain access to fiber internet
📍 600+ Arkansans will be impacted
📍 $1.3 million in BEAD funding will be invested
📍 Decatur will contribute nearly $450,000 in matching funds
📍 Total project investment exceeds $1.7 million

I want to thank Rally Networks for believing in Arkansas’ program, investing in our State, and bringing much needed internet connectivity to underserved areas of Benton County Arkansas.

This program is truly reaching every corner of the State, ensuring that geography doesn’t determine opportunity and that no community is left behind.

You can view Decatur’s locations on our BEAD program dashboard here: https://broadband.arkansas.gov/bead/

Arkansas’ BEAD Pre-Registration Process is Now Open! The Pre-Registration Process will be hosted through the same online portal that hosted the BEAD Mapping Challenge Process.

07/10/2026

The Arkansas State Broadband Office has executed a BEAD grant agreement with Aristotle Unified Communications to deploy fiber broadband infrastructure across 14 Arkansas counties, including Ashley, Chicot, Cleveland, Dallas, Drew, Hot Spring, Lincoln, Lonoke, Ouachita, Phillips, Pulaski, Saline, Union, and White.

Through these projects:
➡️ 9,400+ homes and businesses will be connected
➡️ 23,000+ Arkansans impacted
➡️ Total project investment exceeds $100 million

Thank you to the team at Aristotle for their partnership and commitment to investing in Arkansas and serving our communities.

You can view Aristotle’s locations on our program dashboard here: https://broadband.arkansas.gov/bead/

Arkansas’ BEAD Pre-Registration Process is Now Open! The Pre-Registration Process will be hosted through the same online portal that hosted the BEAD Mapping Challenge Process.

07/10/2026

As ARConnect’s grant agreements with internet service providers are finalized, the next phase of BEAD program implementation involves providers initiating permitting at the Federal, State, and Municipal levels. To support ISPs navigating the Arkansas permitting landscape, we developed the Arkansas Permitting Toolkit, an introductory guide to relevant permitting for broadband construction in Arkansas. Review it on our new BEAD resources page:

BEAD Resources