Digital Inclusion Plan

The City of Fayetteville Digital Inclusion Task Force worked with the University of Arkansas Center for Communication Research to conduct a survey on "Digital Use and Internet Access in Fayetteville, Arkansas." 

The survey methodology, results and final report can be read here.

Digital Inclusion

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 upgraded its City-Wide Institutional Network to increase broadband speeds and implement public Wi-Fi networks around select public facilities, particularly parks.
  • A 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.

Work to Date

  • 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 to help 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
  • Mayor Jordan and the City of Fayetteville appreciates the work of the Task Force to raise awareness and complete the survey
  • Task Force work is now complete, and the City anticipates renewed efforts now that the State has issued the Arkansas Broadband Report and the Federal Communications Commission has renewed broadband mapping efforts and modified the Affordable Connectivity Program

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 April 2018. 

Survey results are available here:  English / Spanish

Public Engagement Events 

In 2018 and 2019, the City is partnered 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 some are available for viewing at the links below.