JACKSON, Miss. — It’s about to get easier for those who live in rural Mississippi to access the Internet with a quick connection.
Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley announced Tuesday that broadband service will expand to rural areas of the state. The expanded service will give access to 136,509 potential customers, he said.
This expansion is possible thanks to $50.8 million in funding from the Connect America Fund, a Federal Communications Commission fund used to pay for rural parts of the county to have service that would otherwise not be affordable.
One in three residents of rural areas lacks access to broadband Internet, according to a Connect America Fund report.
“Access to Internet is crucial in today’s society,” Presley said. “In the 21st century, people deserve the opportunity to have Internet access in their homes, whether their homes are in downtown Jackson or rural Mississippi. This funding puts us one step closer to bridging the broadband gap.”
As public service commissioner, Presley had made it his goal since his election in 2007 to expanded rural broadband service.
