Rural Mississippians Stand to Lose Again in Efforts to Gain Access to Quality, Affordable Broadband Internet

Access to reliable, affordable internet services is essential for the education, health care, and economic success of rural Mississippi families. Yet Children’s Defense Fund’s Southern Regional Office and the Mississippi Broadband Equity Coalition raise new questions about whether the full level of federal broadband investment promised to Mississippi communities and families will be received. Mississippi communities and families deserve clear answers and a real plan for how their tax dollars are being spent. We call on Governor Reeves to provide:

• A clear public accounting of Mississippi’s full broadband allocation, including any changes to expected funding and priority for the technology deployed.
• Transparency on how federal eligibility updates impacted which Mississippi communities qualify for support.
• A clear plan and timeline for deploying the $700 million of the $1.2 billion to expand broadband access that is reliable over the long term.
• A commitment to public engagement, prioritizing fiber infrastructure, and ensuring affordable, high-quality internet access for all communities, consistent with the original intent of the program.

[April 20, 2026]