Arkansas Valley Electric Cooperative Corporation (AVECC) and its subsidiary Wave Rural Connect, LLC, recently partnered with Franklin County officials to submit an application for the Arkansas Rural Connect program. The Arkansas Rural Connect program provides grant funding to qualifying communities and internet service providers bringing high-speed internet to underserved areas of the State. If awarded, the grant would assist in reaching 926 households in Franklin County.

AVECC has been a staple in the Ozark community for more than 80 years. AVECC serves approximately 90% of the county and is dedicated to ensuring rural areas in Franklin County prosper. AVECC is in the process of implementing a 6-year, system-wide fiber deployment project, which will bring about positive change in the rural communities it serves by providing high-speed internet to its member-owners via its wholly-owned subsidiary, Wave Rural Connect.