A new round of projects intended to expand high-speed internet access across the Magnolia State has been approved.
The Office of Broadband Expansion and Accessibility of Mississippi (BEAM) recently approved 12 broadband infrastructure projects totaling $32.5 million to be subsidized by the Capital Projects Fund. Approximately 9,000 households will be powered 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.
“Mississippi continues to make incredible progress when it comes to expanding broadband across the state,” Governor Tate Reeves said. “These twelve projects will go a long way toward ensuring Mississippians have the broadband access they need.”
Approved project locations and providers include:
- 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
BEAM has also 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 for individuals to utilize for school, telehealth, or similar purposes.
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Program guidelines from the US Department of Treasury require all projects funded by CPF to be completed by December 31, 2026.
BEAM is also completing requirements to access $1.2 billion in funding provided by the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment grant, and overseeing the $10.7 million State Digital Skills and Accessibility grant – both from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.
