As millions of dollars are flowing into projects to expand high-speed internet access across Mississippi, one state leader is seeking the public’s assistance in locating areas that are reported to have quality service but actually lack proficient broadband.
Sally Doty, the director of the Office of Broadband Expansion and Accessibility of Mississippi (BEAM), is looking to be extra efficient in ensuring that her department is not skipping over anybody in need of improved internet access. She is asking residents to file a challenge if they are experiencing perpetual slow internet speeds while simultaneously located in areas of the broadband map that indicate the internet service is up to par.
“What we’re trying to catch is those instances, and we know they’re out there — with this amount of data, you’re going to have it — those instances where our map shows you’re served, that you’re all good and hunky dory, but that is not your actual experience as a consumer,” Doty said on MidDays with Gerard Gibert. “This is so important because we cannot distribute federal funding to any area unless it shows up as unserved or underserved.”
According to Doty, there has been a recent change to the metric by which data is collected to see where resources would best be spent to boost internet coverage in underserved areas, meaning it is almost inevitable for a few unintended errors to occur with the mapping.
To remedy this, challenges to the map can be made here. A red dot on the map indicates that the location is unserved. A blue dot means that the location is underserved. A location with a green dot has received federal funding for broadband expansion. Any spot with a gray dot is fully served.
“If you are a resident and have some issues with your internet, I need you to look at my map,” Doty continued. “If you show as grey and there is service shown, but that is not your experience, then you need to participate in this challenge process.”
For those living in areas that are showing up as unserved or underserved on the map, the BEAM administrator ensures that consumers in those regions are already on her radar and will be the beneficiaries of federal assistance.
