FCC members hear rural advocates call for more high-speed access

DATELINE: LITTLE ROCK

Rural advocacy groups and educators told two members of the Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday that a lack of high-speed Internet is hurting Arkansas' Delta and other poor regions trying to lift their low economic and academic rankings.

The FCC members listened as advocates and Internet service providers called for more federal assistance in giving rural areas access to broadband Internet.

"We have not successfully transititioned into the information age, and I would contend a lot of that is because we're not delivering broadband to our people," said Rex Nelson, alternate federal co-chairman of the Delta Regional Authority. "Having access to broadband in even the most rural areas of our country is as important as getting that electricity to them and air conditioning to them back in the 1940s and the 1950s."

Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., invited commissioners Jonathan S. Adelstein and Michael J. Copps to a special hearing at the Central Arkansas Library System's main library in downtown Little Rock. He said afterward the Universal Service Fund is one way more high-speed Internet access could be offered.

The fund, which collects money from a surcharge on phone bills, was created to help bring affordable phone service to rural communities.

"That's been a very successful approach when it comes to telephone usage, and I think we need that same approach with broadband," Pryor said. "I think if we don't do something like that, then rural America and smaller communities will never get high-speed Internet like the urban areas have."

In his opening statement, Copps said other solutions for offering more broadband may include tax incentives and rural utilities service loans.

"Those who get access to high-speed broadband will win. Those who don't will lose," Copps said.

Pryor also cited a measure passed by the Legislature this year creating a nonprofit organization aimed at increasing access to high-speed Internet throughout the state.

"It's time for everyone to acknowledge that high-speed broadband Internet is no longer a luxury, but a necessity," said Sam Walls, chief executive officer of the Arkansas Capital Corp., which formed the nonprofit Connect Arkansas initiative.

Commissioners said they were concerned that broadband may be more expensive in rural areas and questioned whether that may prevent public access.

"If it's more expensive in rural areas, that is a major hurdle," Adelstein said. "We already have poverty issues in the rural part of the state. If the price of broadband is high, that certainly is a double hurdle."