White County Cable TV, which is owned by WEHCO Media, will invest $14.2 million to deliver broadband service to residents in five north-central Arkansas communities by the end of 2022 — essentially doubling its investment in the area.
The company is pledging to deliver 1-gigabit service to every resident and business in Searcy, Judsonia, Kensett, Higginson and Bald Knob. The project, which involves upgrading 350 miles of infrastructure, will begin in Searcy and then expand to the other communities. About 5,682 customers are in the service area.
"I think this can really give you a selling point for economic development," Walter Hussman Jr., chairman of WEHCO Media, Inc., told the group of community leaders gathered for the announcement Monday at the Searcy Chamber of Commerce.
WEHCO Media is the parent company of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
The company is funding the entire project, which is being called "Gig City." Today, White County Cable's investment in the area is about $13.8 million and the broadband upgrade will add another $14.2 million, Hussman said. "We're really rebuilding the whole system here," he said.
Service will be offered under the Cablelynx Broadband brand.
"This is going to use the latest technology and deliver gigabit service to every resident and business in the area," said Tony Allen, the company's area manager. "What's unique about this is we are not going to cherry-pick customers or target only certain segments. We're going to offer this to everyone in these five communities."
Searcy and surrounding communities will receive faster service at better prices, said Buck Layne, president and chief executive officer of the Searcy Regional Chamber of Commerce.
