As Mississippi kicks off a process to identify gaps in high-speed internet service, the head of the office overseeing broadband expansions says the state may have enough money to make quality upload and download speeds available to everyone who wants them.
A few months ago, Kosciusko native Sally Doty wasn’t sure if the 1.2 billion dollars in federal funding would be sufficient to cover the entire state. Now, she says she’s “feeling better about it.”
Doty runs the Office of Broadband Expansion and Accessibility of Mississippi, or BEAM.
“We do calculations periodically with the amount of unserved to underserved and what our projected costs are, but
it’s kind of a moving target,” said Doty.
Doty said previous projects, which won’t rely on the latest federal funding, are taking care of some of the gaps in broadband service across the state.
Mississippi last week launched a process verifying the accuracy of maps showing where quality broadband is available in the state.
The 1.2 billion is aimed at providing high-speed service to neighborhoods designated as unserved or underserved.
Jo
August 6, 2024 at 9:43 AMWhat’s so sad is the rural carriers already had laid the lines and customers living the service. Entergy has not shown any progress out in the county rural areas. Sad situation. Thankful for ability to go to kosy library and download stuff. Please help us!!
chucke
August 6, 2024 at 10:26 AMYou seem to know a lot about this subject so tell us more.
Attala Resident
August 6, 2024 at 3:43 PMI’ll believe it when I see it.
Jim
August 6, 2024 at 7:04 PMMy internet is off a 50 plus year old att phone line which has been cut by road graders countless times and patched as well. No signs of anyone doing or trying to do upgrades where I live (Neshoba county, edinburg area). There is little or no preventive maintenance done, I say this due to the internet box covered in weeds and gra** at its location. On a good day I get 3mb download and 3kb upload.
chucke
August 6, 2024 at 8:15 PMAs a followup to the comment above, I live at the crossroad to nowhere. Mail from West, phone from Ethel, Lights from Winona. I could use some internet service.
Phyllis
August 8, 2024 at 5:24 PMGuges net is awful in my area of attala county.
Linda
August 10, 2024 at 6:20 PMI live just outside the line for att service. I have had Hughes met bout $100 per month and now I have via-sat for $90 per month. I have to come outside my house to talk or text on my phone, day or night. I would love some help.
Nikks
August 12, 2024 at 10:29 AMCan’t wait for att to be up but I’m. The mean time going with viasat