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The Office of Broadband Expansion and Accessibility of Mississippi, also known as BEAM, has approved funding for dozens of projects that will connect thousands of households in counties across the state.

By: Brad Randall, Broadband Communities

Over 27,000 households across 19 counties are expected to benefit from the latest funding for broadband approved in Mississippi.

The funding, which comes from the Capital Reserve Fund, amounts to nearly $71 million. Projects involved in the latest round of funding will have a completion deadline of December 31, 2026, according to a release from the office of Gov. Tate Reeves.

“We’re working hard to expand broadband infrastructure to all corners of Mississippi,” Reeves said, according to comments provided to the media. “Digital infrastructure is redefining our economy, and we want to ensure every Mississippian has reliable broadband access.”

Reeves continued, adding that the projects will be critical to the state’s future success.

In total, $162 million from the Capital Reserve Fund will go towards the development of broadband in Mississippi, the release from Reeves’ office stated.

The state’s broadband office is currently overseeing a dozen projects in 10 counties with $32 million from the Capital Reserve Fund.

“BEAM is also completing requirements to access $1.2 billion in funding provided by the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) grant, and overseeing the $10.7 million State Digital Skills and Accessibility grant,” the release stated.

Companies behind the approved projects include Comcast, Uplink LLC, DE Fastlink, C Spire, AT&T, Swyft Connect, Conexon, Delta Fiber, and Franklin Telephone, according to the release from Reeve’s office.

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