Aristotle Unified Communications Awarded $12.2 Million for Rural Broadband

On August 28th, the FCC announced that Little Rock based Aristotle Unified Communications is one of 103 providers nationwide to win an award in the FCC’s Connect America Fund (CAF) Phase II auction. Aristotle’s $12.2 million award will enable deployment of broadband into historically unserved rural areas.

Aristotle will use the award to deliver broadband into rural areas of Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri, and Oklahoma.

“Throughout its 25 years in business, Aristotle has been committed to bringing broadband connectivity to rural communities,” Aristotle President, Elizabeth Bowles said. “This award will facilitate more rapid deployment of broadband into areas such as the Arkansas Delta that have historically been overlooked by phone companies and large broadband providers.”

The Connect America Fund Phase II auction is part of a broader commitment by the FCC to improve the state of broadband in rural America. Funding guidelines require that providers build out 40% of the awarded areas by the third year and that 100% of the awarded locations be completed by the sixth year following the award.

Aristotle Unified Communications (AUC) is an Internet Service Provider and Voice-Over-IP Phone systems provider with headquarters in Little Rock, Arkansas. AUC joined with New Wave Corp, a central Illinois Internet and Broadband voice and data services provider, to form ArisWave Consortium, the named bid winner in the CAF auction.