Arkansas Broadband Council Field Meeting
| From: Oct 25th, 2011 @ 10:00 am To: Oct 25th, 2011 @ 2:00 pm | < Previous Page |
ARKANSAS BROADBAND COUNCIL TO HOLD
FIRST-EVER FIELD MEETING IN JONESBORO
The Arkansas Broadband Council will hold a Field Meeting at the Delta Center for Economic Development on the campus of Arkansas State University on Tuesday, October 25, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. The purpose of the meeting is to gather information about the status of broadband (Internet service) in Northeast Arkansas and to learn of the area’s current and future needs and requests for the service. The public is invited and encouraged to attend to learn of the capabilities of this multifaceted service available in the area now and to share their own stories about Internet use, availability, cost, or other issues.
Realizing the importance of the Internet to the future of the State of Arkansas, the 86th Arkansas General Assembly created the Arkansas Broadband Council by Legislative Act 604 in 2007 to study and promote universal broadband (Internet service) around the State of Arkansas. The Council's mission is to research and suggest Internet policy to the Governor and State Legislature.
The Council is hoping to hear from a variety of presenters and the public on the current status of the availability and affordability of Internet service in Northeast Arkansas and how universal availability could improve the region’s economy, education, and health care. The information gathered at this, the Council’s very first meeting in a location outside of Little Rock, will assist in the preparation of the group’s bi-annual report to the Governor and Legislature with policy suggestions for the good of the entire state.
Scheduled presentations include a demonstration of Arkansas State University’s connection to and use of the Arkansas Research and Education Optical Network (ARE-ON), the introduction of Connect Arkansas’ SourceLink, a report on Mississippi County’s eCommunity efforts, a look at the effects a lack of access to the Internet can have on a community without universal and/or affordable service, an EAST Lab school group using the Internet to create a community project, and a panel of a some of the area’s current Internet providers discussing their future Internet plans for NE Arkansas.
Jonesboro Mayor Harold Perrin will open the proceedings and welcome the Arkansas Broadband Council to Northeast Arkansas. In addition, First District Representative Rick Crawford will address the group via Skype from his congressional office in Washington, DC.
Input from area residents who are pleased with or concerned about the access to the Internet is vital to the Arkansas Broadband Council’s work.
Members of the Arkansas Broadband Council, who were appointed by the Governor, the President of the State Senate, or the Speaker of the House of Representatives, include: Chairman Katie McLane Burns of CenturyLink; Secretary Maryce Cunningham, Suddenlink Communications (retired); John Ahlen, Arkansas Science & Technology Authority; Ed Allis, AT&T; Greg Ashcraft, South Arkansas Telephone Company; Elizabeth Bowles, Aristotle; Dave Burdick, Pine Bluff Jefferson County Library System; Jim Dailey, Flake & Kelley Commercial and former Mayor of Little Rock; George Dunklin, Dunklin Communications; Larry Frazier, Rural Telcom Solutions; Joe Molinaro, Arkansas Cable Telecommunications Association; Len Pitcock, Cox Communications; and James Winningham, Arkansas Insurance Department (retired).
The Arkansas Broadband Council’s first Field Meeting will be held on October 25th in Conference 201 of the Delta Center for Economic Development, Arkansas State University, 319 University Loop West, Jonesboro.
For more information about the Arkansas Broadband Council and the ABC Field Meeting, see www.BroadbandAdvisoryCouncil.Arkansas.gov