30-day Public Comment Period
Established by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, the Digital Equity Act (DEA) established three grant programs to promote digital opportunity. NTIA states that these programs “…aim to ensure that all people and communities have the skills, technology, and capacity needed to reap the full benefits of our digital economy.” The three grant programs include the State Digital Equity Planning Grant Program, the State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program, and the State Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program.
As the next step in the process to access these funds, the Arkansas State Broadband Office (ARConnect) has developed Arkansas’ Digital Skills and Opportunity Plan (DSO). The DSO plan outlines the state’s vision for empowering Arkansans with the skills, technology,
and capacity needed to self-determine success in the 21st-century digital economy. This draft proposal will be available for public review and comment, for a period of 30 days, through January 25, 2024.
ARConnect is seeking public review and comment of the draft proposal by all broadband stakeholders, including elected officials, nonprofits, business owners, and all interested
residents.
Public comments will be accepted through Thursday, January 25, 2024.
Please keep in mind that the document about which you are providing comment is a draft document and not final. Once the final document is submitted to the federal government,
ARConnect will make the final document available for download and share its availability through our marketing channels.
An email address is required because the DEA requires that our office catalogue and acknowledge all comments. ARConnect will not store or otherwise use your email address or personal information.
In addition to leaving comments through this form, should you or your organization desire to submit more robust comments or additional reference files to ARConnect in support of your comments and/or in reference to the Digital Skills and Opportunity Plan, please email
ARConnect at broadband@arkansas.gov.
Thank you for your participation in this important endeavor.
