The Promise of TV White Space Technology for Rural Connectivity in Arkansas

TV white space technology is a promising solution for providing rural communities in Arkansas with internet connectivity. With its ability to use unused TV frequencies to provide broadband coverage, TV white space technology has the potential to bridge the digital divide and provide critical access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. In Arkansas, the lack of high-speed internet access in rural areas has been a long-standing issue. According to a report by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), nearly 20 percent of Arkansas residents lack access to broadband internet, and the majority of those residents live in rural areas. This lack of connectivity hinders economic growth and limits access to critical services. TV white space technology has the potential to change this. By using unused TV frequencies, TV white space technology can provide broadband coverage in areas where traditional internet providers have not been able to reach. This technology has been successfully tested in several rural communities across the United States and has shown promising results. One example of a successful implementation of TV white space technology is in Claudville, Virginia. The community of Claudville had limited or no access to high-speed internet before the implementation of TV white space technology. After the implementation, the community had access to internet speeds of up to 25 Mbps, which is faster than the average internet speed in many urban areas. This improved connectivity has had a significant impact on the community, allowing residents to access online education, telemedicine services, and new economic opportunities. In Arkansas, TV white space technology has already been tested in several pilot projects. In 2016, Microsoft partnered with the Arkansas Research and Education Optical Network (ARE-ON) to pilot TV white space technology in four rural Arkansas communities. The pilot project aimed to provide broadband access to schools, libraries, and other community institutions in the targeted areas. The pilot was successful, and the technology was able to provide high-speed internet access to these institutions. The success of these pilot projects shows the potential of TV white space technology to provide broadband access to rural communities in Arkansas. However, there are still challenges to overcome before this technology can be widely adopted. One of the main challenges is the lack of available TV white space spectrum. The FCC has already allocated some spectrum for TV white space use, but more needs to be made available to meet the demand for broadband access in rural areas. Another challenge is the cost of implementing TV white space technology. While the technology itself is relatively inexpensive, the cost of deploying the infrastructure needed to support it can be significant, especially in sparsely populated rural areas. To address this issue, government and industry stakeholders need to work together to develop funding and incentive programs that can help defray the cost of deployment. In conclusion, TV white space technology has the potential to revolutionize high-speed internet access in rural Arkansas. By using unused TV frequencies, this technology can provide broadband coverage in areas where traditional providers have not been able to reach. While there are still challenges to overcome, the success of pilot projects in Arkansas and other rural communities across the United States shows that TV white space technology can be a promising solution for bridging the digital divide and providing critical access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities.