Mississippi wins federal approval for statewide broadband expansion
Mississippi has received final federal approval for its comprehensive plan to expand broadband infrastructure to every area of the state that still lacks access to high-speed internet, state officials said Friday.
According to the state, preliminary awards total more than $508 million and are intended to reach about 93,000 unserved households. Participating internet providers will contribute an additional $321 million in private funding to complete the buildout, the state said.
State officials said the expansion is designed to do more than improve connections: it is intended to strengthen the workforce, support small businesses and attract new industries to the state. Expanding high-speed internet availability has been a priority for state and federal policymakers who cite benefits for education, health care, remote work and economic development in rural areas.
Officials did not provide a detailed construction timeline in the announcement. This is a developing story and will be updated as more details emerge. We will provide more information as it becomes available.
