Nov. 1, 2024
By CEO Mel Coleman
North Arkansas Electric Cooperative and other electric cooperatives in the state with fiber projects are celebrating a significant milestone in high-speed internet access.
Together, we are delivering reliable broadband capability to more than 1 million Arkansans.
Collectively, 17 cooperative broadband providers have installed more than 40,000 miles of fiber-optic cable. Our network includes 15 local cooperatives, a middle-mile fiber company and a wholesale broadband provider. When all current projects are complete, we will have more than 53,000 miles of fiber installed in rural areas, serving more than 1.3 million Arkansans.
NAEC’s fiber subsidiary, NEXT, Powered by NAEC, has deployed 3,615 miles of fiber and now serves more than 20,000 subscribers throughout the co-op’s service area. We’ve come a long way since connecting our first subscribers in late 2016.
According to Vernon “Buddy” Hasten, president/CEO of Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation and Arkansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc., much like the tremendous task of providing electricity to remote areas of the state, the electric cooperatives have overcome many challenges to deliver broadband services to areas that otherwise would not be served.
“The locally controlled cooperatives exist to improve the quality of life of the residents in their communities,” Hasten said. “Just like electricity transformed rural America and rural Arkansas back in the 1930s and 1940s, high-speed broadband is transforming rural Arkansas today. No longer does a person have to live in a metropolitan area to have access to lightning-fast internet service. No longer do young people have to leave their communities to work for a national or international company.”
Hasten added that high-speed internet levels the playing field for rural Arkansans by providing equal access to educational services and medical services and enabling small businesses to compete.
A celebration was held Sept. 19 at the state Capitol to commemorate the cooperatives’ broadband achievement. In attendance were Sen. Missy Irvin, Arkansas House Speaker Matthew Shepherd, Sen. President Bart Hester and other local dignitaries who were instrumental in helping NEXT and other fiber subsidiaries bring life-changing fiber to rural areas.
The event honored our dedication and the positive impact of high-speed internet on Arkansas communities. We are better connected together.
Pictured: From left, NEXT Chief Operating Officer Scott Hamby, NAEC Vice President of Engineering Jason Strong and NEXT Director of Marketing & Business Development Cortney Varner attend the co-op fiber celebration at the state Capitol.
