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A slate of proposed broadband expansion projects has been approved in Mississippi to close out August, sending grants funds to five entities to lead out nine undertakings across the state.

By: Brad Randall, Broadband Communities

The Office of Broadband Expansion and Accessibility of Mississippi, also known as BEAM, has approved a string of broadband expansion projects using money from the state’s capital projects fund.

The grant-funded projects will expand internet service to around 12,300 households across the state, according to a recent release from the office of Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves.

Comments from Reeves were also included in the August 26 release.

“Mississippi continues to make incredible progress in expanding broadband access all across our state,” Reeves said. “It’s a critical piece of infrastructure, and we’re working hard to ensure that every Mississippian has access to it. We’ll continue doing everything in our power to ensure everyone has connectivity, regardless of their zip code.”

On the list of approved projects, three are projects led by ACE Fiber, a Corinth, Mississippi-based internet service provider (ISP).

Two projects, in Leake and Marshall counties, are being led by AT&T, while another two projects, in the central and southwestern part of the state, are being led by CSpire, which is based in Ridgeland, Mississippi.

The remaining projects included Comcast’s statewide line extension in the Jackson, Laurel, and Hattiesburg areas, and the Tallahatchie Valley Electric Power Association’s broadband expansion in northeast Yalobusha County and Water Valley.

Earlier this year, in June, $70.1 million was awarded for 24 other broadband expansion projects. According to the release from the governor’s office, those projects will serve approximately 27,000 households once completed.

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