El Dorado News-Times

Arkansas State Broadband Office holds Roadshow in El Dorado

Earlier last month, the Arkansas State Broadband Office released the state’s new state broadband map. The new state broadband map can be accessed on the office’s website at broadband.arkansas.gov, or by clicking here. In conjunctio­n with its release, the office launched the state’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) mapping challenge process on Wednesday, March 20. For the first time in Arkansas’ history, the state’s new broadband map will be able to be challenged for inaccuraci­es in advance of the state awarding additional broadband infrastruc­ture grants.

This months-long process will enable stakeholde­rs in Arkansas to challenge the state’s broadband map and the levels of internet service reported at homes and businesses throughout the state. Stakeholde­rs will be able to challenge data provided by the map but must submit evidence of the inaccuraci­es.

Under federal BEAD program regulation­s, eligible challenger­s in this process include units of local government, nonprofit organizati­ons, and internet service providers.

In addition to eligible challenger­s, the Arkansas State Broadband Office has worked diligently to allow everyday Arkansans the ability to have their voices heard. To suggest a correction to the new state broadband map, everyday residents should access the Internet Performanc­e Data Collection Tool, available here. The state’s mapping challenge portal system, which went live on Wednesday, March 20, will allow for units of local government and nonprofit organizati­ons to submit challenges on behalf of everyday Arkansans. The new state broadband map and challenge portal system can be accessed on the Arkansas State Broadband Office’s website at broadband. arkansas.gov. A Challenge Process Resource Guide and additional resources are also available, including a new and improved speed test applicatio­n.

The tentative timeline for Arkansas’ BEAD mapping challenge process is below (timeline may be adjusted due to volume of challenges):

• March 20, 2024: Challenge portal opens; challenges accepted for 30 days

• April 19, 2024: Challenge rebuttals accepted for 30 days

• May 19, 2024: Challenge adjudicati­on begins

• June 17, 2024: Challenge process concludes

The new state broadband map, challenge portal system, and all other resources are available on the Arkansas State Broadband Office’s website at broadband.arkansas.gov. For more informatio­n and to learn how to participat­e in this process, please contact the Arkansas State Broadband Office via email at broadband@arkansas.gov