Above: Batesville Mayor Rick Elumbaugh, Independence County Judge Kevin Jeffery
Article by Emily Wang, White River Now
Hal Vandiver of the Independence County Broadband Committee was the featured guest of Batesville Mayor Rick Elumbaugh and Independence County Judge Kevin Jeffery at last Thursday’s City-County Connections meeting at the River Steakhouse.
Broadband Expansion Progress
The committee was formed to improve county residents’ broadband access. It works with the Arkansas State Broadband Office to ensure accurate coverage maps, communicate funding and service expansion progress, and assess digital skills and opportunities.
Vandiver detailed the committee’s ambitious efforts to bridge the digital divide by 2030, a vision to have every person and family connected, regardless of income or location, with the hope skill classes can be implemented and brought to those who need it to develop appropriate usage of the technology.
“There’s been a lot of challenges,” said Vandiver. “The two biggest barriers are cost and unavailability of the internet — people couldn’t connect if they wanted to.”
Independence County has a 49% broadband deficiency, with roughly 2,300 locations entirely unserved and 582 underserved. The federal government allocated $1.3 billion to Arkansas for broadband projects, with several providers already making headway in different parts of the county.
“A lot of areas are funded, but they don’t know about it, so we are trying to get this message out,” Vandiver said.
Vandiver said rough terrain and the internet providers’ desire to first invest where it’s economically viable were some reasons other areas in the county did not have access.
“We want every family, regardless of location or income, to have reliable internet access by 2030,” he said. He emphasized the importance of broadband as more than just a utility, describing it as an “enabling technology” for the progression of businesses, education, healthcare, and agriculture, among others.
One goal of the committee is not just to develop access for people currently without the internet, but also to develop ways to teach internet skills and device use for their benefit.
Broadband Affordability Challenges
Vandiver stressed that cost remains a significant barrier for many households, especially those categorized as ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed).
“Families, anywhere to 50 to 90% of households, are at or below the break-even point every day,” he said. “They can’t afford a $100 internet bill.”
Vandiver said grant programs could offer services at a significantly reduced rate, depending on household qualifications.
Future Plans and Community Engagement
The Independence County Broadband Committee will continue to work with multiple internet service providers to improve access and service reliability. The committee also plans to expand digital skills training and increase public awareness.
Currently, the committee is comprised of work groups, with each focusing on issues involving the deployment of Internet Service Providers (ISPs), digital skills and opportunities, and public relations.
Vandiver said they have so far met with 12 service providers.
One issue Vandiver said the committee is pushing is good customer service, with a proactive attitude toward service.
“We’re working to ensure that by 2030, every household has the internet access and skills they need,” Vandiver said.
More information on this issue and maps of the county’s broadband access can be found on the following websites:
https://broadband.arkansas.gov/, https://www.unitedforalice.org/, and https://www.fcc.gov/acp.
Infrastructure and Community Projects
Also at the meeting, Batesville Mayor Rick Elumbaugh praised City Landscape Supervisor Jonathan Abbott and his crew for the 2024 White River Wonderland display.
The mayor also applauded Batesville Fire Chief Mark McCollum for the city’s recent ISO rating of 2. The Insurance Services Office (ISO) rates departments on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being the best. The lower the rating, the lower a community’s fire insurance premiums are as a whole. Departments are typically evaluated every five to ten years.
County Judge Kevin Jeffery provided updates on infrastructure and community initiatives. He also thanked dedicated employees who worked to address recent water leak issues in the county.
He also discussed funds left over from a grant will allow for wood repairs and window restorations on the 120-year-old Jess Carpenter building.
“It’s one of the buildings I’ve really wanted to work on,” Jeffery said.
The Jess Carpenter Building in downtown Batesville / Image: Gena Tate, White River Now
Built in 1904, the building previously housed federal offices, including the U.S. Post Office. It has also been home to the Independence County Library.
Jeffrey said due to construction delays, the completion date of the new Independence County Senior Citizens Center has been pushed to January 2025.
Jeffery also reported that the county’s 2025 budget is strong, with no debt carried over from 2024.
The next City County Connections meeting is scheduled for Jan. 9, featuring guest speaker Col. Mike Hagar, the Arkansas Secretary of Public Safety and director of the Arkansas State Police.
Featured image: White River Now / City of Batesville / Independence County
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