LITTLE ROCK, AR – A legislative committee recommended Monday a North Little Rock company to assess the broadband infrastructure of every school district in the state.
Lawmakers say most school districts have access to broadband, but many do not know how to effectively utilize the service in a cost-efficient manner.
State representative Jeremy Gillam, R-Judsonia, says a study will allow lawmakers to have a definitive inventory of the capacity of each school in the state.
In recent months, there’s been a growing push to allow K-12 schools to tap into the high speed broadband utilized by some higher education institutions in Arkansas.
A state law passed in 2013 prevents K-12 districts from accessing the ARE-ON network.
Gillam says the legislature may look at allowing some districts to connect into the system, but not before getting data to assess how much it would cost.
“We just have to make sure we do it in a responsible way for the taxpayer so we don’t go down the road that winds up costing us a tremendous amount of money and really doesn’t deliver the bang for the buck,” Gillam says.
The report would be due by December 1.
Gillam says that would allow lawmakers to review the findings and make recommendations for the legislative session beginning in January.
Lawmakers say most school districts have access to broadband, but many do not know how to effectively utilize the service in a cost-efficient manner.
State representative Jeremy Gillam, R-Judsonia, says a study will allow lawmakers to have a definitive inventory of the capacity of each school in the state.
In recent months, there’s been a growing push to allow K-12 schools to tap into the high speed broadband utilized by some higher education institutions in Arkansas.
A state law passed in 2013 prevents K-12 districts from accessing the ARE-ON network.
Gillam says the legislature may look at allowing some districts to connect into the system, but not before getting data to assess how much it would cost.
“We just have to make sure we do it in a responsible way for the taxpayer so we don’t go down the road that winds up costing us a tremendous amount of money and really doesn’t deliver the bang for the buck,” Gillam says.
The report would be due by December 1.
Gillam says that would allow lawmakers to review the findings and make recommendations for the legislative session beginning in January.