Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley is among those who see electric cooperatives as a way to increase access. Mississippi law currently bans electrical cooperatives from offering internet service. Presley expects lawmakers to consider dropping that ban in 2019. Photo by Brandon Presley
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi Public Service Commissioner Sam Britton is calling for high-speed internet to reach residents in all parts of the state.
Britton said in a statement Tuesday that Mississippi is ranked 49th in connectivity, and that nearly 30 percent of the state's residents lack broadband service.
Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley is among those who see electric cooperatives as a way to increase access. Mississippi law currently bans electrical cooperatives from offering internet service.
Presley, a Democrat representing the state's northern district, says he expects lawmakers to consider dropping that ban in 2019.
Presley has said that Alabama has fast internet speeds at low prices provided by electrical cooperatives, even in very rural areas. He says that if it can be done in Alabama, it can be done in Mississippi.
Copyright Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
More like this story
- Gov. Bryant Signs Law Aimed at Expanding Broadband to Rural Areas
- Brandon Presley
- Mississippi Speaker Touts Rural Broadband Law, But Questions Remain
- PSC Requests Full Audit of AT&T’s Connect America Fund II Efforts, AT&T Responds
- AT&T Faces Subpoena Over $283 Million In Federal Funds for Internet Connectivity
Support our reporting -- Follow the MFP.
