Arkansas Makes First BEAD Disbursement as Broadband Projects Move Into Implementation
Brightspeed will deliver fiber service to more than 13,700 homes and businesses across 25 counties
WASHINGTON, Oct. 14, 2026 - Federal broadband deployment dollars are starting to flow in Arkansas.
Arkansas has issued its first payment under the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program, a milestone that shifts the state’s broadband effort from planning and awards into construction-stage implementation.
The Arkansas State Broadband Office, known as ARConnect, disbursed $2.6 million to Brightspeed after the provider completed its first required project milestone. The payment covers Milestone 1 for Brightspeed’s 13 Arkansas BEAD projects, which span 25 counties and are expected to connect more than 13,700 homes and businesses with high-speed internet.
Under Arkansas’ fixed-amount subaward model, providers receive funding after completing and verifying predetermined milestones, rather than being reimbursed for individual expenses. To meet the first milestone, Brightspeed submitted project plans, budgets, National Environmental Policy Act milestone schedules and network designs. ARConnect says the approach is intended to protect public funds and ensure projects complete engineering and pre-construction work before advancing.
“Arkansas’ BEAD Program is moving from plans on paper to real work in communities across our state,” ARConnect Director Glen Howie said in the announcement. “Providers complete the work, demonstrate they have met the required milestone, and then funding is disbursed.”
Brightspeed’s Arkansas projects represent nearly $66 million in total investment, including more than $39 million in private capital from the company. Marcy Mealy, Brightspeed’s Senior Manager of Broadband Grant Reporting and compliance, said the company will build fiber to the funded locations in partnership with the state.
Arkansas received $1.024 billion through BEAD, the federal infrastructure program created to expand high-speed internet in unserved and underserved areas. Through its competitive selection process, the state secured commitments to serve more than 77,000 under-connected homes and businesses.
The first disbursement is a relatively small share of Arkansas’ overall BEAD deployment budget, but it signals that awardees are beginning to satisfy the conditions needed to move projects forward. ARConnect said additional milestone-based payments will follow as providers meet the requirements in their grant agreements.
For Arkansas, the payment marks the start of a broader implementation phase: turning a $305,491,845 federal allocation into fiber routes, network designs and, ultimately, service for residents and businesses that have lacked reliable broadband.
