The General Assembly finds and declares that it is in the highest public interest to provide appropriate means for the continued development and enhancement of educational opportunities, medical care services, and governmental operations throughout the State of Arkansas through the use of the public telecommunications infrastructure and networks employing advanced communication and information technology. Such technology and applications have strategic value for the economy for the State of Arkansas, will strengthen the state's connection to the national and international information infrastructure, and will enable the state and its citizens access to a statewide public telecommunications and information infrastructure capable of connecting government agencies, connecting all seventy-five (75) counties, providing Arkansas citizens access to government information, and being continuously upgraded through the addition of compatible new technology.