​A year ago, the Arkansas Association for Two-Year Colleges (AATYC) was just beginning to think about all the possibilities that increased broadband access would open for the 22 two-year colleges in the state and their students.

After spending most of the year working through government regulations and technical issues, AATYC has just “turned dirt” on its first campus to increase connectivity.

“Things are starting to happen,” said Ed Franklin, executive director of AATYC.

The association received $43 million of a $102 million federal grant to expand broadband access in Arkansas. It has partnered with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) on the project, which has a new name—Arkansas e-Link. 

Colleges expand reach with broadband grants

The plan is to have all the state’s community colleges hooked to high-speed broadband by August 2013. Franklin said they also have to teach people about its uses, which will likely lead to increased demand for companies to provide it in rural areas across the state.

“People will start seeing applications and realize they have to have it,” Franklin said. “We think it will transform Arkansas.”

AATYC is working with colleges to determine the best ways to use broadband in the classrooms, for staff and administrative development and to centralize information. Campuses will also be challenged to share the connectivity with the community and education residents.

“The sky is the limit,” Franklin said.

At the same time, UAMS is working on linking hospitals for telemedicine. UAMS and AATYC are exploring how two-year colleges can use that to train nurses and health-care professionals on using telemedicine.