Pine Bluff Cable TV and Jefferson County Judge Gerald Robinson announced a $5.2 Million grant to provide broadband services to underserved homes in Jefferson County at a press conference held Wednesday.
1,880 homes will be serviced with broadband thanks to the grant, including 945 homes in Sulpher Springs, 648 homes in Pinebergen, 177 homes in East Pine Bluff, and 110 homes in Island Harbor.
Sulpher Springs residents should see service completion by December 30, 2022, while Pinebergen will see completion by June 31, 2023, East Pine Bluff by September 11, 2023, and Island Harbor by October 9, 2023.
Chuck Launius, Vice President and Regional Manager of WEHCO Media said that the Coronavirus pandemic showed just how important broadband is for areas that do not have access.
Launius said that extra funding allowed for more areas of the county to receive services, and they went by population numbers to decide which areas are serviced first.
Watson Chapel Superintendent Dr. Andrew Curry said that the addition of broadband will greatly affect many within his district.
Curry said that there is still a small area that will not be covered by broadband, but there are hotspots that can help address that issue for Watson Chapel students.
State Representative Mike Holcomb said that the broadband additions will be great for Southeast Arkansas.
State Representative Vivian Flowers said we should be thinking beyond just basic services, and mentioned ways this initiative will help UAPB students.
The entire press conference announcing the broadband expansion can be viewed below:
