Mississippi News
Reeves signs bill creating Mississippi broadband office, appoints Sally Doty to run it
Reeves signs bill creating Mississippi broadband office, appoints Sally Doty to run it
Gov. Tate Reeves on Wednesday signed into law the “Broadband Expansion and Accessibility of Mississippi Act” and appointed former state senator and current Public Utilities Staff Director Sally Doty to run the new BEAM office.
The new office will direct hundreds of millions in federal dollars to expand broadband internet access across Mississippi, where some have estimated 40% of the state lacks access. The effort has been likened to providing electricity to rural Mississippi in the 1930s.
“It is my strong belief that one’s zip code should not limit access to these technologies,” Reeves said as he signed House Bill 1029 into law and announced Doty’s appointment. “… Mississippi needs someone who gets up every single day and asks, ‘What can we do to improve and increase access to broadband for our entire state.”
The new BEAM office, under the state Department of Finance and Administration, will take applications from internet providers and dole out $162 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act money earmarked for broadband expansion projects. Mississippi also is expected to receive from $500 million to $1.1 billion for broadband expansion from the infrastructure bill Congress passed late last year.
Doty, as public utilities staff director appointed by Reeves in 2020, has already been helping oversee broadband expansion work in Mississippi. The state has received hundreds of millions of federal dollars for broadband expansion in recent years. It received $495 million from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund and lawmakers earmarked another $75 million from the first round of pandemic relief the state received. Most of this money went to rural electric cooperatives.
READ MORE: Cable giants, Mississippi electric cooperatives battle over federal broadband dollars
Doty said electric co-ops and small rural phone companies that received the earlier round of funds have laid thousands of miles of fiber optics and hooked up thousands of households.
“We want to allow all Mississippians to participate in the digital economy we are all part of now,” Doty said. She said Mississippians need access to telehealth, higher education, remote working and other online opportunities to compete and “all of these opportunities depend on connectivity in today’s world.”
House Public Utilities Chairman Scott Bounds, R-Philadelphia, author of the act, said 40 other states have such an office overseeing broadband expansion as the federal government pumps billions of dollars into the efforts nationwide. He said the new office and legislation will be invaluable for future state and federal efforts.
Reeves said the new office will help with “accountability and transparency” of Mississippi’s deployment of hundreds of millions of federal dollars for broadband. But he was also questioned at a press conference after signing the bill about exemptions in the new law for BEAM from public records and open meetings laws. The new law says BEAM records are “confidential, proprietary, and subject to exemption from disclosure.”
Reeves said there are “accountability measures in place,” for the new office and that it will be accountable to him and thus taxpayers. He said the public disclosure shield measures are needed so that internet providers will be candid about their work and service area maps. Nationwide, there is a problem coming up with accurate internet service maps.
This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Mississippi News
Danver’s celebrates forty seven years of continued success
SUMMARY: Danver’s restaurant in Tupelo, Mississippi, recently celebrated its 47th anniversary, maintaining a loyal customer base since its opening in 1977. General Manager Larry Wade, who started as a cook, emphasized the restaurant’s focus on consistency, quality, and customer service. Despite economic challenges, Danver’s has thrived due to its enduring values and community connections, which patrons appreciate. Regular customers, like Tom Robinson, value the reasonable prices and consistent quality. The restaurant aims to continue this legacy, looking forward to its 50th anniversary in three years as it remains a cherished community staple.
The post Danver’s celebrates forty seven years of continued success appeared first on www.wcbi.com
Mississippi News
Creator Studio at MUW expands opportunities for students
SUMMARY: The new Creator Studio at the Mississippi University for Women aims to enhance student creativity by providing a dedicated space for video production, podcasting, and audio work. Located in Fant Memorial Library, the studio offers essential equipment and software, including lighting, microphones, and green screens. Dr. Bary Smith emphasizes that it enables students from various majors to bring their ideas to life without the burden of investing in expensive gear. Students can reserve the studio for projects, fostering valuable skills applicable across industries, particularly in effective communication and branding. Reservations can be made online or through the library.
The post Creator Studio at MUW expands opportunities for students appeared first on www.wcbi.com
Mississippi News
New month same temperatures
SUMMARY: COLUMBUS, Mississippi will experience a return to warmer weather after a brief dip, with highs in the 80s over the next few days. Friday night will be humid, dropping to the low 60s, with possible patchy fog. Saturday will be mostly cloudy but rain chances are reduced, while Sunday will see a mix of clouds and sunshine, with lows in the 60s. Next week starts dry with temperatures in the upper 70s to middle 80s; however, scattered showers are possible on Election Day Tuesday, so residents should prepare with rain gear.
The post New month same temperatures appeared first on www.wcbi.com
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