Arkansas lawmakers Friday approved a contract they hope will lay the groundwork for action in January’s legislative session to provide adequate broadband in every public school. The Arkansas Legislative Council approved a $1 million contract for a consulting firm to evaluate the existing internet capabilities of the state’s public schools.
Throughout the last year a push has been made to allow schools to access the state-owned broadband network, called ARE-ON. Advocates contend its superior speed – utilized by universities and research institutions – would provide better service to rural schools, and at lower costs, than private internet providers. They contend the value is greater for rural areas that have only one provider.
Rural telecom providers argue they already provide affordable, high-speed services. They also say allowing public schools to access the public-owned ARE-ON network would be an unfair government intrusion into the communications sector.
Democratic Budget Chair Larry Teague of Nashville expressed reservations about the price tag of the study to the Chair, Republican Senator Bill Sample.
Teague: It just kind of blows my mind we’re going to spend a million bucks to figure this out.
Sample: This is really to verify exactly what services they do have [interrupted].
Teague: A million dollars, Mr. Chairman? A million dollars to do that?
Sample: Yes sir.
House Speaker-designate Jeremy Gillam (R - Judsonia) said the study is needed because it’s been difficult to get reliable data.
“There have been numerous committee meetings in which data has been presented to the legislature. Over the last four months a good majority of that data has proven to be suspect or in some cases inaccurate. There are a lot of outside groups that have been putting a tremendous amount of pressure on lawmakers to make decisions,” said Gillam.
Senator Teague followed-up on Gillam’s remarks, saying he agreed that propaganda and outside groups have been driving the debate. Teague’s broad critique that it was unsettling that the state’s education system couldn’t compile the information was echoed by fellow Democrat and State Senator Bruce Maloch.
“What has disappointed me and what I’ve told people for months, even going back to the fiscal session and before, is the difficulty I’ve got is who is telling the truth? You have the Department of Education saying one thing and you’ve got private providers saying another,” said Maloch.
Gillam contended the state doesn’t have enough staff to send knowledgeable people into every school to assess their internet needs in time for January’s session. He said a previous survey effort by the Department of Education did not provide reliable results because responses were incomplete, inaccurate, and often filled out by people without an understanding of IT fundamentals.
The study approved by ALC Friday is to be conducted by North Little Rock based CT&T and is expected to be completed in December.
