BEAM Mississippi Up With Broadband

When it comes to wiring Mississippi, the state is betting on co-ops and small telecommunications companies. In 2019, then-Lieutenant Governor Tate Reeves (R-MS) worked with House Speaker Philip Gunn (R-MS) to pass the Mississippi Broadband Enabling Act, which allowed the state’s electric cooperatives to offer affordable broadband to rural areas. At the time, proponents said large cable and telecommunications companies were failing to expand service into rural areas because it wasn’t profitable enough. In his first Mississippi State of the State Address as governor, Tate reiterated his commitment to universal broadband, saying, "[W]e cannot forget the next great generational infrastructure issue: internet access. We must continue to find innovative ways to allow all of Mississippi to connect. No one should be left behind." In 2022, Gov. Reeves signed the Broadband Expansion and Accessibility of Mississippi Act, creating the Office of Broadband Expansion and Accessibility of Mississippi (BEAM) to coordinate and streamline broadband policy in the state. Located within the Department of Finance and Administration, BEAM administers federal grant programs to provide broadband service in unserved and underserved areas.