Connect2First Internet BEAD awards
Connect2First Internet won $2.9 million in BEAD grants to serve 437 locations in Arkansas, according to the state award lists below. These are wired builds, which means construction: placement, boring, splicing and drops.
Arkansas
$2.9 million
437 locations · Fiber · provider match $968,533 · est. completion December 15, 2027 · about 14 mi buried + 41 mi aerial fiber (state estimate)
Source: Arkansas State Broadband Office, BEAD Final Proposal Exhibits A-E (files posted 2026-01)
BEAD grants
$2.9 million
Locations
437
Grant per location
$6,649
Fiber miles (est.)
14 buried · 41 aerial
Latest completion
December 15, 2027
What this build needs from crews
- Underground, about 14 miles. Directional boring, plowing or trenching, conduit and handholes, then restoration. Locates come first on every foot (utility locating).
- Aerial, about 41 miles. Make-ready, strand and lash, and pole attachments (aerial fiber), usually with traffic control on the road.
- Splicing and drops. Every one of the 437 locations needs a drop and a splice at the end (fiber splicing).
How subs usually get on a BEAD build
- Find out who is building. Providers often hand construction to a prime or an engineering and construction firm, and those firms hire the subs.
- Get your paperwork ready before you call: certificate of insurance, W-9, safety program, and proof you can do the footage.
- Ask what the state's BEAD rules mean for subs. Workforce, safety and reporting requirements vary by state and are often passed down.
- Be findable. List your crew with the states and trades you cover, and watch fiber work on the board.
Other wired BEAD winners in Arkansas
Want to build for Connect2First Internet?
Providers and their primes staff these builds with subcontractors. List your crew with the states and trades you cover so they can find you. Free.
Provisional awards can change as states finalize agreements. TrackOver isn't affiliated with Connect2First Internet. All providers.