Members of the Joint Texarkana Community Committee, City Council of the City of Texarkana, Texas and Board of Directors of the City of Texarkana, Arkansas met Tuesday evening to discuss the possibility of community wide broadband for the twin cities.
Presentations were made by David Wall from Cable ONE, David Covington from Windstream, James Davis from Network USA, and Joshua Dunkenson from Texarkana Area Information Technology Group.
Representatives from Texas A&M University-Texarkana and Texarkana College conveyed their need for robust internet connection; however, the project would encounter potential legal challenges and financial obstacles.
Jeff Hinton, Chief Information Officer of TAMUT, said, “Community broadband as a city service is a challenge for both states, but there are potential loopholes.”
Texarkana, Arkansas Mayor Ruth Penny Bell said, “This is going to have to be done in the private sector and it is not a realistic objective for the cities. I know this is the way of the future and I do want it to come here.”
