State wires up for high-speed Internet

Mississippi is getting on the broadband wagon. While currently Mississippi residents have the lowest broadband (high speed) Internet usage rate in the country—about 60 percent—the Mississippi Broadband Connection Coalition (MBBC) aims to help more Mississippians get high-speed Internet connections.

Mississippi has received about $7 million in federal funding to collect information on the availability, speed and location of broadband across the state. Part of these funds helped create MBCC, a non-profit partnership focused on producing a comprehensive statewide plan for improving digital literacy, increasing access to broadband and enabling greater adoption of broadband in the state.

“We are trying to get a picture of which areas in Mississippi have adequate access to high-speed Internet and where there could be improvement,” says Laura Hipp, deputy press secretary to Governor Haley Barbour. “The State of Mississippi will not actually install a broadband system as broadband is made available by telecommunications companies, wireless service providers, cable providers and other Internet providers.”

The MBCC is led by Jim Barksdale, the former CEO and president of Netscape, and includes more than 150 industry leaders, community representatives, state agencies and broadband users.

High-speed Internet connections could be especially important to the Delta.

“Broadband can deliver better educational opportunities to communities resulting in a better trained workforce,” Hipp says. “Through broadband, hospitals, doctors and other medical providers can share patient records, especially large files like X-rays, quickly to ensure quality care and treatment. Both large and small business owners throughout the state will be able to conduct meetings online and expand their companies’ reach across the country and even the world.”

Whether talking about the largest or smallest companies, broadband is an important component to economic development.  Hipp says it can result in a better educated and more efficient workforce, making locations attractive to potential companies.

“Broadband Internet is quickly becoming an essential part of day-to-day commercial operations with the ability to connect companies to the rest of the world,” Hipp says. “For local governments, this will help expand e-government initiatives and give citizens easier access to information and services. By having high-speed access at public libraries, we enhance the offerings of Mississippi libraries and provide citizens with a place to use the Internet to find jobs or continue their education.”

Statistics show in rural areas with low incomes and low education rates are the least likely to use the internet.

“Right out of the chute we have some mitigating variables that keep Mississippi broadband adoption rates low,” says Dr. Jason Dean with the Fidelis Policy Group, the professional management firm hired to help administer the grant and develop recommendations over the course of the year.

“Our key goal is to try to increase broadband digital literacy, a term that means adoption of broadband using fast speed Internet in areas where it is available. Using broadband leads to higher quality of life outcomes for everything from accessing economic development opportunities to education aspects.” DBJ