FCC: $495 million will aid Mississippi’s effort to expand broadband access

Nearly half-a-billion dollars will fund the expansion of access to high-speed broadband in rural Mississippi. 

As the result of a reverse auction, Mississippi companies and co-ops were allocated over $495.7 million that, according to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), will bring broadband to 218,990 unserved homes and businesses over the next 10 years.

“This historic auction is great news for the residents of so many rural Mississippi communities, who will get access to high-quality broadband service in areas that for too long have been on the wrong side of the digital divide,” said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai.  “We structured this innovative and groundbreaking auction to prioritize bids for high-speed, low-latency services to deliver the best results for rural Americans, and the results show that this strategy worked.  This auction was the Commission’s single largest step ever taken toward delivering digital opportunity to every American and is another key success in our ongoing commitment to universal service.”

The FCC explained that nearly all locations in Mississippi that were eligible for the auction will be receiving access to broadband with speeds of at least 100/20 Mbps, with an overwhelming majority (82%) getting gigabit-speed broadband.

The Mississippi Public Service Commission and members of Mississippi’s delegation in D.C. worked to speed up the allocation of the FCC’s $20.4 billion ‘Rural Digital Opportunity Fund.’ The auction was part of phase 1—an effort to first serve under-connected areas. 

“I’m very excited about this and what it means for our state,” PSC Chairman Dane Maxwell said. “The issue of high-speed internet is an issue that we have to face head-on during these unique times. I appreciate the leadership of the FCC Commissioners and for the opportunity to work closely with them to bring these funds home to Mississippi.”

According to Northern District Commissioner Brandon Presley, the PSC must now approve each winner as an “eligible entity to receive funds.”

“Today’s awarding of $495 million is a direct result of all of us as Mississippians making broadband access a top public priority,” Commissioner Presley said. “Rural communities and small towns deserve the same high-speed internet service as exists in big cities.”

Presley also explained that Mississippi received the second-largest share of the funding, second only to California.

“This first round of funds from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund will make an incredible difference in the state of Mississippi as we work toward connecting every person to reliable high-speed internet,” Senator Roger Wicker said. “There is much more work left to do, but this strong showing for our state’s internet providers is good news. I will continue working to improve internet access for all Mississippians and ensure the next phases of aid are awarded where they are most needed.”

Additionally, the Mississippi Legislature recently allocated $65 million of the state’s CARES Act funding for the similar purpose of connecting more Mississippians to the internet, especially students as remote learning continues in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Following is a list of winning bidders, number of homes and businesses to be served, and total support for 10 years in Mississippi, by county: