Background

• Fayetteville has been recognized as a small city that rivals big cities in its digital practices. The City invests progressively in its digital backbone for delivery of services to citizens. Upgrading the City’s building network connectivity will improve our digital infrastructure for enhanced and efficient government operations and access to city services.
• The City recently upgraded its City-Wide Institutional Network to increase broadband speeds and implement public Wi-Fi networks around select public facilities, particularly parks.
• A new ordinance for Small Cell Facilities siting was passed by the City Council in November, 2018, to define internal procedures for working with providers as they implement the new small cell technologies in public rights of way and private property. To learn more about Small Cell installation in the City, click here. 
• In addition to the infrastructure planning for high speed networks for city operations and services, an equally important goal is to enhance access for all citizens to affordable broadband services.

In Process

• The City’s digital equity strategy will comprise: digital inclusion for all residents for online learning, access to job banks, closing the homework gap, and increasing ways in which citizens can be civically engaged online.
• The Digital Inclusion Plan will include public policy priorities for furthering digital equity in Fayetteville for consumers, citizens, students, job seekers, and entrepreneurs so we can advance digital equity in ways that will have a meaningful impact on the lives of residents
• Working in partnership with the Fayetteville Public Library, Fayetteville Public Schools, the University of Arkansas, City residents, and industry partners, Fayetteville’s Digital Inclusion Plan will build equity awareness and accommodations into all city departments and public services.
• A draft of the plan is targeted for summer 2019.

Public Survey

A survey was prepared for City residents regarding the availability of high-speed Internet service throughout the community, including how they access and use it. Surveys were made available in English and Spanish, online at the City’s public engagement portal, Speak Up Fayetteville, and in paper format. Copies were mailed to a random sampling of households in early April. The survey is now completed and results are being analyzed.  Full survey results will be published soon.

Public Engagement Events 

The City is partnering with the Fayetteville Public Library to offer a series of public events on the topic of digital inclusion.  The following events were LiveCast from the library, and are available for viewing at the links below. 

Bad Guys Want Your Stuff: Seven Ways to Defeat Cyberattacks Against Your Home or Business with Mark Graff
Wednesday, January 29, 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Fayetteville Public Library, Walker Community Room

Connecting to the Future: Celebrating, Rethinking and Reigniting Internet-Based Innovation with Larry Irving
Saturday, February 8, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Fayetteville Public Library, Walker Community Room

City of Fayetteville Digital Readiness Forum
August 30, 2018

What is 5G & Why is Net Neutrality Necessary.
March 21, 2019

Speak Up Fayetteville: Digital Inclusion Survey Launch
January 24, 2019

Internet Access: Quality and Affordability in Fayetteville
Panel Discussion with Internet Providers
September 19, 2018

Advancing Digital Equity and Broadband Opportunities for Residents of Fayetteville 
Joanne Hovis, CEO of the Coalition for Local Internet Choice
May 17, 2018