JONESBORO, Ark. – (March 10, 2021) –The cities of Augusta and Stuttgart are bringing 100% fiber high-speed internet services to local residents with funds from the Arkansas Rural Connect (ARC) Broadband Grant Program. Ritter Communications, a leading regional broadband provider headquartered in Jonesboro, has been selected by city officials to partner with both cities to establish Fiber-to-the-Home infrastructure that will provide high-speed, high-quality internet access to homes.
"Ritter Communications believes all Arkansans should have access to high-speed broadband internet services, and we commend Governor Hutchinson and his administration for prioritizing a solution to bridging the digital divide in Arkansas," said Ritter Communications CEO Alan Morse. "Ritter Communications is honored to have been chosen as a partner to bring the latest fiber services to rural Arkansas, keeping residents connected to the technology they need to fulfill their learning, health, work and entertainment needs."
With its gigabit internet speeds, Augusta and Stuttgart residents will receive a new residential fiber service from Ritter Communications called RightFiber™, the latest broadband solution that provides a full suite of services including internet, phone and video offered by Ritter Communications.
Augusta Mayor Jeff Collins said, “The City of Augusta is grateful for the $2.3 million ARC Broadband Grant which will allow increased broadband speeds to be expanded throughout the city. High-speed internet access is essential to the health, education, economic growth and well-being of our community. Ritter Communications worked earlier this year to provide telecommunications services for our businesses, so we are thrilled to partner with them again. We are confident that Ritter Communications will bring Augusta residents services that will vastly improve the internet connectivity of our entire community.”
Economic Development Coordinator for the City of Stuttgart David Leech said, "The $6.1 million ARC Broadband Grant will bring Stuttgart residents fast and reliable internet access, something which is no longer a luxury, but a necessity. We are excited to have Ritter Communications as a community partner on this project. Their services will improve our community’s economy, health and education.”
The Arkansas Rural Connect Broadband Grants, funded by the CARES Act and state funds, are awarded to rural Arkansas communities, making broadband internet connections accessible to more Arkansans.
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About Ritter Communications: Ritter Communications is the largest privately held telecommunications service provider in the Mid-South, offering world-class broadband fiber, telecom, video, cloud and data center services. The company has grown rapidly over the years, investing millions recently in technology infrastructure and is now serving 95 communities and more than 45,000 customers in Arkansas, Texas, Missouri and Tennessee. Headquartered in Jonesboro, Arkansas, Ritter Communications invests heavily in the communities it serves by deploying proven, best-in-class infrastructure and technology, while coupling it with a world-class customer-focused experience. For more information visit RitterCommunications.com.
Media Coverage:
AR Democrat Gazette - https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2021/mar/21/high-speed-internet-flowing-to-rural-arkansas/
NWA Democrat Gazette - https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2021/mar/21/high-speed-internet-flowing-to-rural-arkansas/
Stuttgart Daily Leader - https://www.stuttgartdailyleader.com/stuttgart-receives-6-1-million-arkansas-rural-connect-broadband-grant/#:~:text=Stuttgart%20receives%20%246.1%20million%20Arkansas%20Rural%20Connect%20Broadband%20Grant,-The%20ARC%20Broadband&text=JONESBORO%2C%20Ark.,Connect%20(ARC)%20Broadband%20Grant
Newsbreak - https://www.newsbreak.com/arkansas/stuttgart/news/2180089945306/stuttgart-receives-61-million-arkansas-rural-connect-broadband-grant
Telecompetitor - https://www.telecompetitor.com/cares-act-funding-underlies-arkansas-gigabit-broadband-project/
AR Money & Politics - https://armoneyandpolitics.com/augusta-and-stuttgart-receive-combined-9-3-million-arc-broadband-funding-ritter-developing-internet-infrastructure/#:~:text=Two%20eastern%20Arkansas%20towns%20are,(ARC)%20Broadband%20Grant%20Program.&text=Through%20the%20ARC%20Broadband%20Grant,received%20a%20%246.1%20million%20grant
Talk Business & Politics - https://talkbusiness.net/2021/03/ritter-communications-expands-high-speed-internet-in-augusta-and-stuttgart/
KAIT8 - https://www.kait8.com/2021/04/12/rural-broadband-expansion-included-american-jobs-plan/
