While Oklahoma has made recent strides of expanding its rural broadband service efforts in the state, a recent report showed neighboring Arkansas has led the nation in the increase of broadband connectivity since 2021.
Arkansas’s success has also been due to Ritter Communications, a firm headquartered Jonesboro and serving 5 states. CEO is Heath Simpson who recently spoke with Arkansas Business about Ritter’s work with the state broadband office.
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The director of the Arkansas State Broadband Office recently highlighted a report showing that Arkansas led the nation in increasing broadband connectivity measured since 2021
Ritter Communications is a leader among regional independent communications providers, offering business, residential and wholesale customers advanced internet, phone, video and cloud services. We invest heavily in the communities we serve by deploying proven, best-in-class infrastructure and technology while coupling it with a world-class customer focused experience. Founded in 1906 and headquartered in Jonesboro, Arkansas, Ritter Communications is committed to growing and evolving to meet the demands of today’s ever-connected world. Grain Management, LLC, a leading investor in the communications sector, is the majority owner of the company in partnership with E. Ritter and Company, which also operates Ritter Agribusiness and Ritter Investment Holdings.
The director of the Arkansas State Broadband Office recently highlighted a report showing that Arkansas led the nation in increasing broadband connectivity measured since 2021. Ritter Communications is proud to have been a major player in making that happen with a variety of tactics. First, we launched RightFiber in 2021, which is a reimagining of what internet service can and should be. It uses the latest technology in fiber networks to deliver up to 5-gig speeds to homes. We made pricing simple, straightforward and affordable. By the end of this year, we will have expanded RightFiber to almost 100,000 homes in Arkansas. We’ve also invested considerable dollars to upgrade our existing cable network in the northeast part of the state, now allowing us to offer up to 2-gig services on our traditional Ritter Communications home internet service. And lastly, we’re proud to have been the recipient of the largest amount of grant dollars under the Arkansas Rural Connect program, having been awarded $67 million through 13 awards to connect cities like Stuttgart, Augusta and Brinkley, and rural areas in Crittenden, Cross, Independence, Jefferson, Pope and St. Francis counties.