Huge progress is being made to close the digital divide in Mississippi.� Internet service has become as important today as electricity was in the 1930’s.� That’s why Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley chose to sign the final approvals for over $91.3-million in Rural Digital Opportunity Funds over to 9 rural electric cooperatives today on the same spot where President Roosevelt announced Tupelo as the first TVA city.
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“We’re going back to the spot where President Roosevelt came in 1934 to announce Tupelo as the first TVA city, which really cemented north Mississippi as a region in the country that was a leader in public power,” Presley stated.� “Fast forward to today, and broadband service is as important as electricity was.� So we’re going back to that same spot to sign the final approvals.”� This is the last step that has to be done for 9 of our local rural electric cooperatives to receive $91.3-million from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund.� “This is going to help bring internet access to over 42-thousand homes and businesses in north Mississippi.� We’re going to be doing events like this in Greenwood and Columbus on Wednesday, and then down at East Mississippi Electric Friday.� This is a major day, and these funds are going to propel us, or keep us on the track of bringing world-class broadband to every house in the state, which has been a goal of ours for a long time.”
Nearly half-a-billion dollars in total will fund the expansion of access to high-speed broadband in rural Mississippi.
Today’s signing represents the largest single day of broadband funding awards in Mississippi history. Mississippi received the second-largest share of the funding, second only to California.
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