By ANTOINETTE GRAJEDA | Arkansas Advocate
The state broadband office is launching a process Wednesday for Arkansans to challenge the accuracy of a federal broadband map in advance of awarding broadband infrastructure grants.
The Federal Communications Commission’s National Broadband Map provides information about internet service available at locations across the country, as reported by Internet Service Providers (ISPs).
The state’s mapping challenge portal system will allow units of local government and nonprofit organizations to submit challenges on behalf of Arkansans, who were asked to provide feedback to the Arkansas State Broadband Office in the months leading up to the mapping challenge, according to a press release.
“We have been preparing for this process for well over a year,” State Broadband Director Glen Howie said. “As a result of intensive stakeholder outreach and engaged residents across the state, our counties are organized and ready to go. We look forward to launching this historic process.”
The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), provides $42.45 billion to U.S. states, territories, and the District of Columbia to expand broadband access, fund deployment and mapping, and address affordability and digital skills needs.
In June 2023, NTIA announced Arkansas would receive more than $1 billion in BEAD funding to expand broadband access and address affordability and digital skills needs in the state.
The tentative timeline for Arkansas’ BEAD mapping challenge process is:
- March 12: User guide and location listings posted online; portal registration begins
- March 20: Challenge portal opens; challenges accepted for 30 days
- April 19: Challenge rebuttals accepted for 30 days
- May 19: Challenge adjudication begins
- June 17: Challenge process concludes
The state broadband map and challenge portal system can be accessed at broadband.arkansas.gov.