Ritter Communications has been awarded eight rural broadband installation grants by the Arkansas Legislative Council totaling approximately $44 million. The resources, which are made available through the Arkansas Rural Connect (ARC) program and funded by the American Rescue Plan, help finance projects that improve high-speed broadband internet access for more Arkansans. The addition of the eight grants to previously awarded grants brings the total amount awarded to Ritter Communications to date to $67 million.
“Ritter Communications has become a trusted leader in getting and keeping Arkansans connected to each other and to essential services,” said Ritter CEO Alan Morse. “We were pleased to partner with local Arkansas communities to jointly apply for these grants, and we appreciate the confidence the State of Arkansas has placed in us to bring these projects to fruition.
We are eager to help these communities and the State bridge the digital divide and bring state-of-the-art broadband services to business and residents there,” Morse added.
The eight ARC grant areas awarded to Ritter Communications are:
– Cross County Crowley’s Ridge: $3,180,100
– Cross County West: $4,257,650
– Jefferson County Northeast: $4,263,828
– Jefferson County Northwest: $11,305,061
– Pope Appleton/Hector/Scottsville: $5,665,012
– Pope Southwest: $7,053,243
– St. Francis County North Central: $4,311,437
– St. Francis County Northwest: $3,296,875
Ritter Communications will contribute additional funding alongside the state-funded grants to ensure ubiquitous network coverage and to fund final connections to customers’ homes and businesses. Previously announced expansion projects across the state are underway with some nearing completion. The company is building its growing infrastructure network to
sustain anticipated market growth and bandwidth demand.
Residents interested in RightFiber™ services can visit RightFiber.com to submit a form expressing interest in the service. This will help Ritter Communications prioritize areas for future expansion and streamline home
activations once service is available.
Ritter Communications is a regional telecommunications provider, headquartered in Jonesboro, Arkansas, serving over 100 communities in the region across four states with a full suite of innovative communications services.
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