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Former AHCF administrator says Arkansas high‑cost fund remains vital to rural broadband deployment
Summary
Larry Frazier, representing the Arkansas Rural Broadband Association, told joint committees the Arkansas High Cost Fund (AHCF) helps small telcos secure loans and deploy fiber in rural areas, but statutory caps and mapping gaps limit coverage; lawmakers pressed for clearer data on who gets funding and where.
Larry Frazier, vice president of the Arkansas Rural Broadband Association and former administrator of the state—s high‑cost fund, told the joint Advanced Communication/Information Technology and Insurance & Commerce committees that the Arkansas High Cost Fund has been essential to rural broadband deployment but that the program faces limits and transparency challenges.
Frazier said the fund, historically a mechanism to mirror federal universal service support, now focuses on broadband deployment in high‑cost areas. "We couldn't do that unless we had the Arkansas high cost fund," he told the panel, describing how small carriers used state and federal support to secure long‑term loans for fiber projects.
The chair noted roughly $40…
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