24 Mississippi broadband infrastructure projects approved

JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – On Tuesday, Governor Tate Reeves (R-Miss.) announced that the Office of Broadband Expansion and Accessibility of Mississippi (BEAM) recently approved 24 broadband infrastructure projects to be funded by the Capital Projects Fund (CPF).

According to the governor’s office, BEAM anticipates additional CPF projects to be approved on a rolling basis throughout the summer.

“We’re working hard to expand broadband infrastructure to all corners of Mississippi,” said Reeves. “Digital infrastructure is redefining our economy, and we want to ensure every Mississippian has reliable broadband access. These projects will be critical to our state’s efforts and I look forward to seeing the positive impact that they will have on Mississippi.”

Approved project locations by county:

• Coahoama/Tunica/Quitman: Uplink LLC
• Copiah/Hinds: Comcast
• Covington/Jones/Perry: DE Fastlink
• DeSoto: AT&T (multiple projects) & C Spire
• Hinds: East of Terry – C Spire (multiple projects) & AT&T
• Jefferson: Swyft Connect
• Lawrence/Walthall: Conexon
• Lincoln: Conexon (multiple projects) & Franklin Telephone
• Madison: Comcast
• Neshoba: AT&T
• Rankin: AT&T
• Rankin/Simpson: Comcast
• Sunflower: Delta Fiber
• Walthall: Conexon
• Wilkinson: Swyft Connect

The governor said the initial CPF projects will provide approximately $70.9 million of grant funding to build internet service to approximately 27,000 households in 19 counties across the state. Program guidelines from the US Department of Treasury require projects funded by CPF (the initial 24 and all future projects) to be completed by December 31, 2026.

Citizens are encouraged to visit the Mississippi broadband map available online. The map shows available service at each household, as well as locations that already have federal funding for service expansion.