South Central Connect RDOF Progress Report for Arkansas

South Central Connect, a subsidiary of South Central Arkansas Electric Cooperative, is receiving Rural Digital Opportunity Fund funding to deploy 1 Gbps/500 Mbps service to 48 Census Block Groups in Arkansas. South Central Connect hereby notifies the Federal Communications Commission of its decision to default on 13 of its 48 RDOF CBGs in Arkansas. The escalating construction costs associated with South Central Connect’s ability to serve these 13 CBGs—all of which are located in either Garland, Montgomery or Nevada counties in Arkansas—have led South Central Connect to make this difficult decision. South Central Connect understands that by defaulting on the above CBGs, it will no longer be entitled to receive further RDOF funding in these 13 CBGs and that it may be subject to the applicable non-compliance rules. South Central Connect reserves and retains its rights to seek relief from any penalties, including waiver of the Commission’s rules, as well as any other relief as may be necessary