$22.6M award boosts NAEC’S broadband economic development project

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North Arkansas Electric Cooperative’s initiative to bring broadband access throughout its entire service area has received a significant funding boost of $22.6 million from the Federal Communications Commission.The cooperative’s broadband initiative is known as NEXT, and CEO Mel Coleman says it’s in response to requests from NAEC’s membership. Coleman says the funding the cooperative will receive over a five-year period from the FCC’s Connect America Fund auction is an economic stimulus package for North Central Arkansas.


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Coleman says the FCC saw the merits of the NEXT project borne from a pilot initiative in three areas in Baxter and Fulton counties over the past three years. He says the pilot provided the opportunity for NAEC to build a communications company, to prove it was possible, and the cooperative demonstrated it could be done. NEXT was established by the cooperative to provide fiber-based gigabit internet, phone and television services. In June, NAEC’s board of directors approved its expansion to the cooperative’s entire service territory.

Coleman says today’s NEXT project is similar to the effort 80 years ago when people came together to form electrical cooperatives to bring power to rural America.


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Once broadband access reaches the customers at the end of the line over the next five years, the cooperative will have installed 5,000 miles of fiber, beginning with 700 miles in 2019. In five years, the entire service area in parts of eight counties will be covered. Coleman says NEXT will prove to be the economic stimulus for the area many are seeking.


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Coleman says broadband access is also an issue for those wanting to open a business.

The NEXT expansion will also require additional employees. Coleman says the cooperative plans to hire 11 in 2019 and more in years two and three.

He says the need for broadband access in rural areas is not unique to Arkansas. He says the needs are the same across the country.

For more information, go online to naeci.com/next, or call 870-895-3221.

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