Quality of Life

Telecommunications

Businesses have found that Arkansas has an excellent telecommunications network, a positive legal environment and technology capabilities that are state of the art.

Business Climate

Arkansas's business-friendly attitude also applies to telecommunications. The state has a climate that makes doing business cost-efficient and convenient. Businesses locating in Arkansas benefit from:

  • No sales tax on incoming 800 telephone calls
  • A positive legal climate with no state regulations on call monitoring, telemarketing, calling hours or automatic dialing restrictions

Infrastructure

Currently, 28 incumbent carriers operate more than 1.4 million access lines and 382 digital switching centers in the state. Major vendors include SBC and Alltel.

The state's long-distance needs are well served by six point-of-presence (POP) sites located throughout the state. Interexchange providers include GTE, AT&T, Sprint and MCI Worldcom.

Technological Upgrades

Arkansas's excellent telecommunications network offers a full range of digital transmission services for data, video, and facsimile.

Extensive fiber-based networks have greatly enhanced distance learning, telemedicine and government and business services. These enhancements have been made possible by close cooperation among telecommunication businesses, state and local government, educational institutions and economic development organizations. Commitments from these partners have led to continuous upgrades of telecommunications technology. These improvements include:

  • Asymmetric digital subscriber lines (ADSL) service introduced by Alltel
  • More than 150,000 miles of fiber optic cable connecting the state
  • Availability of advanced ATM switching
  • Availability of Integrated Service Digital Network (ISDN)
  • Fiber infrastructure for 14 fiber parks that are the products of a partnership between SBC & Alltel, educational institutions and local government and economic development organizations. All have resources and attributes that enhance successful recruitment of businesses. In these communities, there will be two separate routes of fiber optics connecting the business park site and telephone digital switching offices to ensure continuous service.