JONESBORO, Ark. (March 8, 2022) – Ritter Communications, the largest privately held telecommunications service provider in the Mid-South, has been awarded eight rural broadband installation grants by the Arkansas Legislative Council totaling approximately $44 million. These resources, 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 these eight grants to the previously awarded grants brings the total amount awarded to Ritter Communications to $67 million to date.
"Ritter Communications has become a trusted leader in getting and keeping Arkansans connected to each other and to essential services,” said Ritter Communications 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,” he said. “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.”
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
- Francis County North Central $4,311,437
- Francis County Northwest $3,296,875
Ritter Communications will contribute additional funding alongside these state-funded grants to ensure ubiquitous network coverage and to fund final connections to customers’ homes and businesses.
Ritter Communications works with community leaders on all fiber expansion projects to provide access to the 100% fiber-based broadband internet and telecom services offered by the company. Previously announced expansion projects across the state are underway with some nearing completion, bringing more communities access to Ritter’s RightFiberTM suite of services. With a symmetrical one gigabit speed, RightFiberTM offers the fastest, highest performing service available. The company is building its growing infrastructure network to sustain anticipated market growth and bandwidth demand.
“As bandwidth requirements and devices become more advanced and can support 10G FTTH speeds, we have built our network with that future in mind so when the time comes we are capable of providing 10G speed directly to your home,” said Jeff Chapman, RightFiber General Manager.
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. As the company continues its expansion planning, Ritter Communications is constantly evaluating existing service areas to determine additional neighborhood builds based on network proximity, housing density and customer demand.
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. Learn more at RitterBusiness.com or RightFiber.com.
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Ritter Communications is the largest privately held telecommunications service provider in the Mid-South, offering world-class broadband fiber, telecom, video, cloud and data services. The company has grown rapidly over the years, investing millions recently in technology infrastructure and is now serving over 100 communities with more than 45,000 business, residential and wholesale 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, RitterBusiness.com or RightFiber.com.
Media Coverage:
Telecom Ramblings - https://newswire.telecomramblings.com/2022/03/ritter-communications-awarded-44-million-in-8-additional-arkansas-rural-connect-grants/
Talk Business & Politics - https://mailchi.mp/talkbusiness/qx3iakjwsj-962856
Arkansas Money & Politics - https://www.armoneyandpolitics.com/ritter-44m-arkansas-rural-connect-grants/
Darik News - https://darik.news/arkansas/ritter-communications-awards-44m-in-arkansas-rural-connect-grant/202203530001.html
Broadband Technology Report - https://www.broadbandtechreport.com/fiber/article/14235220/ritter-awarded-8-more-arkansas-rural-connect-broadband-grants-worth-44m?utm_source=BTR%20Networking&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CPS220310027&o_eid=0158C6624190E4E&rdx.ident%5Bpull%5D=omeda%7C0158C6624190E4E&oly_enc_id=0158C6624190E4E
Telecompetitor - https://www.telecompetitor.com/ritter-gets-44-million-more-in-arpa-funding-via-arkansas-rural-connect-program/
Light Reading - https://www.lightreading.com/opticalip/ritter-gets-$44m-from-arkansas-for-fiber/d/d-id/775964
Benton Institute for Broadband & Society - https://www.benton.org/headlines/ritter-gets-44-million-more-american-rescue-plan-act-funding-arkansas-rural-connect
Fierce Telecom - https://www.fiercetelecom.com/broadband/ritter-communications-scores-44m-expand-arkansas-fiber
Arkansas Business - https://www.arkansasbusiness.com/article/139206/ritter-communications-lands-another-44m-for-broadband-projects
NWA Democrat Gazette - https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2022/mar/11/news-in-brief/
4State News - https://4state.news/2-providers-receive-grants-for-broadband/
Arkansas Democrat Gazette - https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2022/mar/12/2-providers-receivegrants-for-broadband/
