Folks in northwest Arkansas will see some new artwork when traveling through Bentonville. Earlier this month, Ritter Communications unveiled a new mural created by local artist Susan Idlet decorating its Fiber Optic Shelter. The design, titled “Fiber is the Future,” is intended to show Ritter’s commitment to technological advancement and the different ways people can remain connected through fiber broadband.

“Part of the Ritter Communications expansion strategy and our ‘Right by You’ motto is to leave construction areas better than we found them,” CEO Heath Simpson told CFX. “Our utility cabinets typically have shrubbery planted or a privacy fence installed to enhance the area visually. While we were evaluating how to best operate the site of the fiber optic shelter in Bentonville, AR, this exciting and creative opportunity for the space emerged.”

With a dark backdrop accompanied by vibrant colors and designs, the mural also stands as a way for Ritter to deepen its connection to the communities it serves. That’s part of the reason why Ritter decided to collaborate with a local artist like Idlet on the project after finding her through the local Public Arts Council’s website. Simpson said Idlet’s work—which is often described as “surrealistic folk art”—stood out because of her creative use of color and imaginative style when it comes to incorporating everyday concepts.

“Bentonville has a vibrant community of artists as well as a Public Arts Council. The Council has done an incredible job of developing a process for exploring the work of artists in the community who are interested in projects like ours and partnering on public art projects,” Simpson said.

It’s been a busy few years for Ritter since launching its FTTH service RightFiber in 2021 and undergoing a $28 million expansion project to connect businesses that same year. The company spans five states in-networks and 11 states out-of-network when including partners’ networks, but as the internet landscape evolves and grows, so will Ritter.

“The landscape speaks to our ongoing efforts to connect homes, schools and businesses throughout the region,” Simpson said. “In the long term, this work illustrates how connectivity is evolving. Ritter Communications is powering future-proof technology in cities like Bentonville, further supporting the community’s economic growth and development opportunities.” – Noah Ziegler

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