New Arkansas Broadband director studying state ‘Affordability Trust Fund’

By Roby Brock
Talk Business & Politics

The state’s new broadband director, Glen Howie, has been on the job for a little over a month and he’s already gauging where Arkansas can excel even further with Internet connectivity. Howie, who comes to Arkansas from Louisiana, says the state has a “great story to tell.”

“Since 2020, the [broadband] office has awarded $392 million in grants, which is fantastic. That’s actually a number that would lead a lot of states and lead the nation in the amount that we’ve given out. But moving forward, we have to do more than that,” he said.

Howie outlines three pillars for broadband expansion: infrastructure, affordability, and digital literacy, or knowing what can be done with affordable broadband. Read more.