Connect with us

Arkansas

Arkansas broadband will seek “thought leader” on high-speed internet deployment

Published

on

Arkansas broadband will seek “thought leader” on high-speed internet deployment


A director will probably be employed for the state’s broadband workplace, and the search has already begun for the fitting individual, Jim Hudson, deputy director of operations and normal counsel for the Arkansas Financial Improvement Fee, informed legislators on Friday.

The announcement, made throughout an Arkansas Legislative Council assembly, got here on the heels of Monday’s launch of a report from Broadband Improvement Group that was commissioned six months in the past for a statewide research to develop a grasp plan for addressing broadband companies.

The report put a $550 million price ticket on the trouble to increase broadband entry to about 110,000 households nonetheless with out high-speed web.

“We’re engaged on considerably — and I do need to emphasize considerably — the staffing within the broadband workplace,” Hudson mentioned. “We have already talked to our technical adviser, which is UAMS, their Institute of Digital Well being and Innovation, to present us a proposed price range to deal with the elevated workload.”

Advertisement

The individual employed for the place should be a “thought chief,” Hudson mentioned.

“To this point, what we have carried out with the ARC [Arkansas Rural Connect] program is de facto be a processor of grants. I consider that Decide [Steven] Porch and his staff — and it is a small staff — have been extremely environment friendly and efficient in getting loads of grants processed and moved out the door,” Hudson mentioned. “Now, due to all of the coverage implications which are coming into play, totally different pots of cash, we’d like any person who’s a thought chief each in know-how and in coverage.”

Porch is the Arkansas Rural Join govt broadband supervisor and chief authorized counsel for the Arkansas Division of Commerce.

Later Friday, Gov. Asa Hutchinson mentioned in a information convention that strengthening the state broadband workplace was a necessity.

“We’re already engaged on that as a result of this can be a massive, main oversight duty for the Division of Commerce,” Hutchinson mentioned. “We’re searching for methods to strengthen that. It is one of many issues the federal authorities asks in addition to they deploy federal {dollars} right here.”

Advertisement

Hudson informed the legislators that he could be again in Could to ask the legislative personnel committee to approve the place.

Rep. Stephen Meeks, R-Greenbrier, mentioned he was very glad to listen to {that a} broadband director could be employed.

“That is been certainly one of my complaints for the final a number of years is that we’ve not had that time individual or these mission managers to have the ability to handle this degree of complication to get all these items carried out,” Meeks mentioned. “I am very inspired to listen to that.”

The 79-page “Arkansas State Broadband Plan” launched Monday concluded that the state has 251,000 households categorized as missing ample broadband entry, that means these with web speeds lower than 100 megabits per second.

Broadband Improvement Group whittled that quantity all the way down to 110,000 households after subtracting 41,000 households mischaracterized by the FCC and one other 100,0000 households that the state is engaged on by way of varied state and federal grant protection.

Advertisement

Hudson mentioned that the estimated half-billion greenback value estimate would seemingly go up “with inflation being what it’s.”

Over a three-year timeframe, Hudson estimated that $300 million would go towards about 100,000 households whereas $200 million would go to 10,000 households.

“Mentioned one other approach, about 40% of the fee would go to lower than 1% of the households in Arkansas. These are the most costly components,” Hudson mentioned. “There is a purpose why these haven’t fairly gotten service but. They’re costly due to topography and so they’re costly due to density.”

Within the report, the group steered that a part of the mission’s price ticket might be funded by tapping into federal funds within the vary of $254 million to $358 million,

BDG additionally advisable a cost-sharing part within the report with web service suppliers to offset the fee. At the moment, the state would fund 100% of the construct out within the present Rural Join program. Hudson mentioned officers are taking a look at a doable 75/25% break up to share the burden.

Advertisement

Hudson informed legislators that there will probably be “ample cash accessible” coming primarily from federal sources, together with remaining funding that’s accessible by way of the American Rescue Plan, that can be utilized for broadband and a “vital sum of money” that will probably be coming from the lately handed federal infrastructure invoice.

“We simply want to determine which funding stream makes probably the most sense at which cut-off date,” Hudson mentioned. “We’ll come again to you seemingly in early summer time with a funding request for standing up a strengthened and enlarged broadband workplace.”

Hutchinson mentioned later that one other necessary facet of the plan roll out is the necessity to work with the Legislature on new guidelines.

Hudson mentioned earlier that they set a July 1 deadline to have the proposed guidelines to the Legislature.

Hutchinson took concern with the federal six-year timeline for getting broadband service to these 100,000 households which are lined by federal grants. (Federal guidelines prohibit the state from granting funds to those areas lined by the federal Rural Digital Alternative Fund.)

Advertisement

“That is a very long time,” Hutchinson mentioned. “It isn’t as quick as I want to go, and I hope that we will speed up our deployment to 110,000 households and I hope that they speed up their deployment as effectively.”

Legislators peppered Hudson with quite a few questions in regards to the report, some taking concern with Broadband Improvement Group’s absence from the assembly. BDG, of Little Rock, is led by CEO Lou McAlister.

“Why are they not right here immediately?” Rep. Jim Wooten, R-Beebe, requested.

Hudson had beforehand mentioned in his opening remarks, earlier than taking questions from the legislators, that he was there to present an outline, not an in depth evaluation because the report was launched simply days earlier and the legislators seemingly did not have time to assessment it.

“We’ll be working with management to schedule applicable committee conferences for Mr. McAlister to return in and provide the extra detailed presentation, the findings within the report and to have the ability to reply your technical questions,” Hudson mentioned.

Advertisement

In line with McAlister, it was BDGs’ understanding that Friday’s assembly was meant to be simply an preliminary dialog in regards to the report and that BDG’s availability could be wanted in future legislative conferences.

Sen. Jane English, R-North Little Rock, mentioned it was necessary that the consulting group comes and makes a full presentation to the legislature.

“I believe we’d like a minimum of that,” she mentioned, including that there will probably be hearings within the Joint Efficiency Assessment Committee in a few weeks. “I believe it is crucial. That report is prolonged, it is detailed and it is rather good. Nevertheless it takes a while to consider it. I do know there are maps on the market, supposedly there are interactive maps. — I have never seen these. I do not know what these seem like. For individuals to have a greater understanding of what we’re actually speaking about, we have to have that full dialogue.”

Legislative Council vice-chairman Sen. Terry Rice, R-Waldron, mentioned he hopes ongoing conferences will clear up some issues.

“One factor I hope we’ll have in ongoing conferences on that is the priority that initially all the cash was paid up entrance, the priority on tasks that they get accomplished, who owns product if they do not get accomplished, and ensuring the sign and finish result’s what it is imagined to be is an enormous factor,” he mentioned.

Advertisement

Sen. Missy Irvin, R-Mountain View, thanked Hudson for the report and mentioned that she was “extremely excited” to have a grasp plan and a street map.

“I believe it is crucial for us to know it in phrases I believe we perceive the Division of Transportation,” Irvin mentioned. “And this is the rationale why I say that: Primarily as a result of there are areas within the state the place it is actually expensive to construct roads and bridges. However individuals want these roads and people bridges. And the state of Arkansas wants these roads and people bridges irrespective of the place we’re within the State of Arkansas or irrespective of how expensive they’re to construct. We’d like to consider that in the identical approach with this infrastructure of the twenty first century.”



Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Arkansas

Arkansas purchases Franklin County land for new prison site • Arkansas Advocate

Published

on

Arkansas purchases Franklin County land for new prison site • Arkansas Advocate


The state has purchased 815 acres in Charleston for $2.95 million to build a new prison to help alleviate overcrowding that requires housing inmates in county jails, Arkansas officials announced Thursday. 

The state spends roughly $30 million a year to house about 3,000 inmates in county facilities, according to a press release. More prison beds also likely will be needed in the future due to the Protect Arkansas Act. Backed by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the 2023 law overhauls the state’s parole system and eliminates the possibility of parole for the most serious offenders.

“The Department of Corrections’ mission is to provide safety and hope for Arkansans, but we won’t accomplish that effectively without adequate bed capacity,” Secretary of Corrections Lindsay Wallace said in a statement. 

“Working with Governor Sanders, our Department has opened more than 1,100 prison beds to alleviate our state’s longstanding bed shortage and we plan to open hundreds more soon. With this new facility, we will add even more beds and deliver on our promises to the people of Arkansas.”

Advertisement

Department of Corrections officials did not have an estimated timeline or a full cost estimate for the prison Thursday. The project is expected to create thousands of construction jobs, and once the prison is built, it’s estimated it will employ nearly 800 people at an annual average salary of $46,600, according to the release.

Located about a half hour east of the Oklahoma border, the secluded Franklin County site offers needed infrastructure for what’s expected to be a 3,000-bed facility, including cell phone reception, water lines, electricity and a nearby fire department, and it’s also close to thousands of workers who could staff the facility, officials said. 

Unofficial news about the purchase broke Wednesday when KDYN Radio announced in a social media post that Sanders would discuss the prison project on air Thursday afternoon. The news garnered hundreds of comments, many of which expressed displeasure about building a prison in the region and concerns about a lack of community input. 

Asked about these issues during Thursday’s broadcast, Sanders said local officials were not involved in the site selection process, which was “a state-funded, state decision,” but said some were notified ahead of the formal announcement. Sanders said her administration has been very open about building a new prison in the state and is committed to working with local stakeholders throughout the rest of the process.

Advertisement

GET THE MORNING HEADLINES.

Additionally, Sanders said the project is a major economic investment in the area and will help improve public safety in the state. 

Advertisement

“These people that we will be locking up in this prison can either be in this prison and in this facility where they are guarded or they can be in your community, and right now that’s our alternative,” Sanders said. 

“Right now we don’t have the space and we don’t have the ability to arrest and lock them up. So instead of letting people free, we can put them in this facility and make sure that our state and our communities are infinitely safer.”

The governor said she’d like to break ground as soon as possible, but noted it will likely be a couple of years before the facility is fully operational. The Board of Corrections must vote to approve the prison site before construction can begin, according to the governor’s office. 

It’s been two decades since the state last built a new prison. The first phase of the Ouachita River Correctional Unit opened in Malvern in 2004 when Sanders’ father, Mike Huckabee, was governor.  

Nearly 20 years later, former Gov. Asa Hutchinson proposed expanding the Corrections Department’s North Central Unit in Calico Rock by almost 500 beds using surplus funds. State lawmakers approved $75 million for the expansion in December 2022, but the project was put on hold when Sanders took office in January 2023.

Advertisement

Arkansas prison board OKs managerial contract to develop new facility

Last November, the governor and attorney general began butting heads with the Board of Corrections over plans to expand the state’s prison capacity and who has ultimate authority over Arkansas’ correctional system. The dispute resulted in lawsuits and the firing of former Corrections Secretary Joe Profiri, who was then hired as a senior advisor to the governor. Officials said Thursday they anticipate relying on his expertise while building the new prison.

While discussions about a new prison continued, the Department of Corrections in August turned its attention to immediate expansions when officials announced more than 100 inmates were being moved into a vacant work release facility at the Tucker Unit in Jefferson County. Officials also announced nearly 325 additional beds were planned in three other state correctional facilities in Batesville, Texarkana and Newport. 

In September, Arkansas prison officials approved the acquisition of two facilities in Mississippi and Phillips counties for additional expansion opportunities. 

The Board of Corrections earlier this month voted to approve a contract with Vanir Construction Management to help oversee development of the new prison. 

Advertisement

The board’s next meeting is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Tucker Unit. The agenda includes a discussion about new bed space and an update on the county jail backup.

YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Arkansas

Are Ole Miss, Arkansas Primed For Another Wild Matchup? | Locked On Ole Miss Podcast

Published

on

Are Ole Miss, Arkansas Primed For Another Wild Matchup? | Locked On Ole Miss Podcast


Today’s Locked On Ole Miss Podcast discusses how Lane Kiffin has his work cut out for him in this game between the Ole Miss Rebels and Arkansas Razorbacks. John Nabors from Locked On Razorbacks joins the show to talk about the matchup and why this game is always the craziest on the schedule.

This matchup is absolutely massive for the Rebels because of what it means in the College Football Playoff race. Ole Miss has the Kentucky albatross around its neck which makes this game really important for Lane Kiffin, Jaxson Dart and a defense that includes linebacker Chris Paul Jr. returning to Fayetteville. This game means more than it has recently with Ole Miss looking to win its fifth matchup in the last seven meetings but its first in Fayetteville since 2008.

In our final segment of the day, we give our final predictions on the Ole Miss vs. Arkansas game and look at players who are poised to stand out on Saturday. Who wins and how ridiculous will it be?

WANT MORE OLE MISS SPORTS CONTENT?

Advertisement

Become an LOOM Insider HERE

https://joinsubtext.com/lockedonolemiss



Source link

Continue Reading

Arkansas

Multiple Key Rebels Listed on First Injury Report Before Arkansas Game

Published

on

Multiple Key Rebels Listed on First Injury Report Before Arkansas Game


The No. 19 Ole Miss Rebels and Arkansas Razorbacks are set to do battle in Fayetteville on Saturday, and the first injury report for the game has been released by the Southeastern Conference.

The SEC revealed the injury report on Wednesday night, and there are some key Rebels listed in its contents. You can view the full listing for both teams here.

The biggest news for the Rebels lies in the “questionable” and “probable” categories. RB Matt Jones, WR Tre Harris, SAF Andy Jaffe and OL Nate Kalepo are all listed as questionable to participate in Saturday’s game while six Rebels are in the probable category.

Among those listed as probable are offensive linemen Jayden Williams, Micah Pettus and Jeremy James, defensive tackle Walter Nolen, and tight ends Dae’Quan Wright and Caden Prieskorn. The only two Ole Miss players guaranteed to miss this weekend’s game as of Wednesday night are CB Cedrick Beavers and RB Logan Diggs.

Advertisement

Starting with Harris, he suffered injuries in back-to-back games earlier in October, and he did not see the field last week against Oklahoma. Matt Jones has also been out since the South Carolina game, missing action against LSU and Oklahoma.

Pettus was a late scratch prior to last week’s game for the Rebels, and Williams and James have been battling injuries along the offensive line since earlier this season. Nolen was also injured against Oklahoma and did not return to action.

Arkansas’ listing is much shorter than Ole Miss’ on Wednesday night as DB Jaylon Braxton, RB Ja’Quinden Jackson and K Kyle Ramsey are all listed as out. RB Rodney Hill is the other player on the list, and he is probable.

The prospect of not having Tre Harris back in the offense as the Rebels play in a road environment is not ideal, but it is a promising sign that Matt Jones could return to the backfield and that Nolen and the three offensive linemen appear to be able to play this week.

Kickoff between Ole Miss and Arkansas is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT on Saturday, and the game will be televised on ESPN.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Trending