Status of Broadband Internet in Nevada County
Like most every other county in the nation, Nevada County has locations currently "served" by broadband (at least 100/20) and others that are either "underserved" (less than 100/20) or "unserved" (no internet at all). This web page attempts to help residents understand their current situation. For those without broadband, there is a grant in process to get broadband to your location and you can learn about that grant and when broadband should be at your location.
Specific Information for All Locations
Arkansas Broadband Office Map
- In the upper right, search for your location and click it to zoom in (or navigate to and zoom in on your location).
- Once zoomed in, click the dot representing your location.
- Gray dot locations are currently served. The list shows current "Providers".
- Green dot locations were funded prior to BEAD. The "Funding Program" is shown and there is a list of current "Providers" of any kind of internet service.
- Purple dot locations will be funded by BEAD. The "Funding Program" shows the BEAD preliminary "selectee" ISP (Brightspeed for fiber; Space Exploration or Amazon for satellite). There is a list of any current "Providers" of any kind of internet service. Specifics for BEAD funding are on the Preliminary Results Dashboard.
Current Nevada County Broadband Service
Many locations in Nevada County are "served" with solid broadband internet service:
- Prescott city limits (South Central Connect, Cablelynx, Brightspeed)
- Emmet city limits (Cablelynx)
- Bluff City and some of surrounding area (South Central Connect)
- Bodcaw, Falcon, and southwestern portion of Nevada County (Walnut Hill Communications, South Central Connect)
Some Locations Already Have Grants Awarded
Over the last two decades, several grants have helped Internet Service Providers (ISPs) build infrastructure to provide broadband service.
- Some of the most successful grants prior to 2024 that helped achieve broadband access in the county were from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Those awards went to South Central Connect, Centurytel (now Brightspeed), Walnut Hill Comminications, and Cablelynx (WEHCO).
- Some of those locations have been built and are now "served" with broadband.
- Other locations are still pre-construction with a completion deadline at the end of 2028, even though ISPs indicate they'll have service going before then.
There's a New Round of Grants (BEAD) for All Other Locations
- President Biden's bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 established Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) grants. It's over a billion dollars in Arkansas.
- Every remaining "underserved" and "unserved" location that has not already received a construction grant is to have a grant awarded to an ISP to construct service to that location.
- There are 701 locations in Nevada County that will receive this funding. The preliminary "selectees" were named on August 29, 2025.
- A point system was implemented to consider many factors, including price and type of service, to determine the preliminary "selectees". The points have not yet been shared with the Nevada County Broadband Committee.
- The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) must approve the preliminary "selectees". December 2025 is the target date. Contracting and awards will follow, including approval by the Arkansas Legislature, likely in 2026. It may be 2030 before broadband from these grants is functioning.
- Even though not yet awarded, preliminary "selectees" are told they have until 2030 to complete construction, even though ISPs indicate they'll have service going before then.
- ISPs who receive BEAD funding are required to have a "low-cost" plan for low income locations eligible for the FCC Lifeline Program, but prices are determined by the ISP.
FIBER OPTIC CABLE BASED DELIVERY
Fiber optic service is generally considered superior to other technologies because it can provide very high speeds and is very reliable. It is somewhat expensive to initially construct. But, there are little recurring expenses for periodic end user equipment cost, maintenance or speed improvements. Monthly fees are typically lower, with basic service in the neighborbood of $50.
- Locations include the rural around around the city of Prescott, a few locations east of U.S. 371 between Prescott and Rosston, the city of Rosston and areas south and east of Rosston.
- The award is for $2,227,831.10, the average is about $3,508 per location.
- Brightspeed, like other fiber service providers, currently advertise base monthly prices around $40-$60.
LOW EARTH ORBIT (LEO) SATELLITE BASED DELIVERY
Satellite service is generally considered inferior to fiber optic technologies because of satellite spectrum physics that limit speed and atmospheric conditions that hinder reliability. It is less expensive to initially install. But, expensive periodic replacement of end user equipment can make the long-term cost higher than fiber optic construction. Monthly fees typically have beenhigher, with basic service over $100. In November 2025, Starlink introduced "Residential 100Mbps" for $40/month with unlimted, but deprioritized, data. The BEAD program contains no provisions to cover the recurring cost differential.
Here is the list of addresses (indicated by blue dots in the above map) designed for Starlink and Amazon instead of fiber.
Space Exploration Technologies Corp (Space-X's Starlink service) is the preliminary "selectee" for 65 locations. With an award of $47,485.61, the average is about $730 per location.
- Most locations are within a few miles of Terre Rouge Creek on Highway 24 east of Prescott, some areas south of Bluff City, a few locations east of Rosston and what appears to be the Texas Eastern Transmission facility off County 112 northwest of Bodcaw.
- Starlink currently advertises their service for $80-$120/month depending on data consumed.
- Almost all locations are adjacent to or close to fiber service areas.
- The location appears to be the Laneburg Volunteer Fire Department Station 1 building at speed of 1000/1000 (required for Community Anchor Instutions or CAIs).
- Monthly pricing cannot be found since the service is not set for operation until late 2025.
- South Central Connect has fiber on utility poles on this property.
The above maps were obtained from the Broadband Office:
- Visit the Preliminary Results Dashboard.
If the link does not work, go to https://broadband.arkansas.gov/bead, then scroll down to "ARConnect Resources", then expand the first group "Draft Final Proposal, Exhibits, & Public Comment". - Next to "Select a County", scroll down to then click "Nevada".
- Select a sub-project ID: In Nevada County, the fiber awards are 77 and 182; the LEO awards are 238, 254 and 256.
