Governor Tate Reeves issued the following statement.
The Office of Broadband Expansion and Accessibility of Mississippi (BEAM) recently approved 12 broadband infrastructure projects totaling $32.5 million to be funded by the Capital Projects Fund (CPF). “Mississippi continues to make incredible progress when it comes to expanding broadband across the state,” said Governor Tate Reeves. “These twelve projects will go a long way toward ensuring Mississippians have the broadband access they need.” Approved project locations by county:- Amite County – Swyft Fiber
- Calhoun County – Bruce Telephone Company
- Covington County – Swyft Fiber
- Hinds County – CSpire
- Jasper County – TEC
- Lamar County – CSpire
- Lawrence County – TEC
- Leake County – TEC
- Panola County – TVI Fiber
- Pontotoc County – We Connect Communications
- Scott County – TEC
- Tate County – CSpire
- Tate County – TVI Fiber
These 12 CPF projects will provide $32.5 million of grant funding to build internet services to approximately 9,000 households in portions of 12 counties across the state. Last year BEAM approved 37 other CPF projects totaling $100 million to serve approximately 42,000 households across the state. Additionally, BEAM has made $878,000 in awards in a smaller CPF category for public wi-fi projects. These funds were applied for by and awarded to internet providers to build wi-fi in public places (downtowns, parks, volunteer fire stations, etc.) for individuals to utilize for school, telehealth, or similar uses. Program guidelines from the US Department of Treasury require all projects funded by CPF to be completed by December 31, 2026. Mississippi’s $162 million in CPF funding is only one of the investments in Mississippi broadband that is to be administered by the BEAM office. BEAM is currently overseeing the $32 million Broadband Infrastructure Program (BIP) projects (14 projects in 10 counties) that are all nearing completion. BEAM is also completing requirements to access $1.2 billion in funding provided by the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) grant, and overseeing the $10.7 million State Digital Skills and Accessibility grant – both from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. Citizens are encouraged to visit the Mississippi broadband map available at www.broadbandms.com. The map shows available service at each household, as well as locations that already have federal funding for service expansion. BEAM can also be reached by phone at 601-359-5029 or by email at info@beam.ms.gov if you have questions. |
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15 comments:
Great, now that we've all had to buy Starlink. Too little too late
I would check the map, but that's hard to do with nonexistent AT&T internet service...
More pork to add to the national debt!
More government handouts to private businesses. Hypothetically, if I were inclined to start up an isp, how much in campaign contributions is required to get a handout like this? Is it just Tate that needs to be taken care of or is it his whole executive crew plus the legislature side?
Maps has errors. I'm in the area annexed by Clinton years ago. ATT copper w/6 Mps best case = unserved [per BEAM criteria]. Map shows my address with smoking fast Xfinity = served. Submitted documentation to BEAM many months ago that Xfinity does not serve this area. I'm sure this will work out fine.
2:17, they don't care. This is all about press releases and doling out funds to these favored contributors, I mean communications companies. Besides CSpire, have you heard of any of these "companies?"
3:08, or they don't want a monopoly by giving all the money to one or two companies.
Democrats will be happy! The interwebs is a human right!
more corporate welfare
yes, a pig has many nipples.
A lot of the new fiber ISPs are connected to electric Co-ops around the state.
Over $3,600 per household. Appears to be a sound business plan. But it's free money!!
Let me get this straight. You can buy a Starlink starter kit for $350. So 9000 homes x $350 = $3,150,000. Each subscriber would get unlimited data for $120 per month which is equivalent to fiber costs. Please explain why we’re spending $32,500,000 for same coverage?
Yes 4:47. Brandon Presley made sure the co-op customers had a chance at internet. But not those of us who get our power from the great and mighty Entergy.
The beam map shows my address in the adjacent county. When I contacted them after Sally Doty got on Supertalk telling everyone to check the maps, I was told those were FCC maps. I would have to take it up with them. Looks like starlink is my only option in my little corner of the county.
@5:37 - While Starlink has it's place, fiber service is way better. No drop outs during thunderstorms, static IP addresses (not available from Starlink) and huge improvements in speed. My Starlink will be gone as soon as fiber is available in my area.
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