Broadband Development Group (BDG)
Arkansas Broadband Master Plan
BDG, hired in October of last year, was hired to conduct a six-month, statewide study to develop a comprehensive master plan and determine the true state of broadband coverage in Arkansas and find the most efficient way to fund deployment to those remaining underserved. They hosted a series of more than 300 community meetings in all 75 counties and received more than 18,000 surveys from residents across the state. The report addresses the key deliverables required by the contract: assessing available broadband assets in the state; mapping out where the broadband gap exists in the state; calculating the budget needed to bridge the gap; and recommending improvements to the ARC grant program. According to its findings, Arkansas currently has 110,000 underserved households
