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DAVID BURDICK PROMOTES BROADBAND SERVICE

By Wes Clement/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Thursday, July 2, 2009 10:53 PM CDT

A lacking infrastructure for broadband Internet service leaves many Arkansans with slow, outdated service, according to a local advocate for broadband expansion.

Dave Burdick, Jefferson County Library Director, addresses the members of the West Pine Bluff Rotary Club Thursday afternoon at the Pine Bluff Country Club. Pine Bluff Commercial/Ralph Fitzgerald

“A lot of residents in Arkansas don’t have broadband access in their homes,” David Burdick, director of the Pine Bluff/Jefferson County Library System, told the West Pine Bluff Rotary Club Thursday.

Burdick serves on the Arkansas Broadband Council working to increase accessibility of broadband Internet service in the state.

“Connect Arkansas is responsible for preparing people in need of broadband and providing accessibility to people. They are promoting broadband development throughout the state,” he said.

“The infrastructure improvement is essential to advanced society,” he said.

“Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation help provide broadband to public libraries in Arkansas. They are doing a pilot study in six states, Arkansas being the fifth.”

A broadband summit was held at Little Rock about three weeks ago and Burdick was among speakers who addressed an audience of Internet providers, state politicians, Gov. Mike Beebe and Speaker of the House Robbie Wills.

“The interesting thing was this was the fifth one they’ve done, and Arkansas was the only state to have the governor, state legislators, and the speaker of the house to attend.

“It’s easier to get librarians interested in the summit, but the governor and legislators are different.”

In 2007, Beebe signed the Connect Arkansas Broadband Act to help ensure the state would have ready access to broadband.

The act established Connect Arkansas, a non-profit organization intended to develop competitive broadband infrastructure needed for statewide coverage.

The state may now be in a position to receive federal funds to accomplish the task, though details are not yet clear, Beebe said during his June 12 radio address.

Also Thursday, Burdick announced that summer reading programs are under way at local libraries.

“We desire to bring as many kids to our library, let them check out books and try to make it as fun as possible,” he said.

There are 1,200 kids and youth in the programs combined and Burdick said he expected the number to increase by 200 during the next month.

“We could certainly use more than 1,400 kids reading over the summer,” he said.

“Each week we have a different event. Next we’re having a creative pet show. We’re asking them to bring their pet or a stuffed animal, dress it up and show it off.”

When students read 10 books, their names are put in a drawing for $25 Walmart giftcards.

Burdick said 25 percent of the library system’s circulation in the current six month period is conducted during June, Burdick said. Another quarter is done in July.

Burdick has been director of the library system for 16 years.

Thursday’s Rotary meeting was Dean Sikes’ first as 2009 president of the club. He succeeded Charles Bonner who was recognized for 50 years of perfect attendance at the Pine Bluff and West Pine Bluff clubs.

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