Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

NATCHEZ — Residents of Adams, Lincoln and Pike counties with poor internet or none at all could be eligible for improved service funded by federal dollars.

Mississippi allocated millions from the federal CARES Act to improve and expand broadband service across the state. Additionally, the state received the second-highest award total from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration of any state in the country with $32.7 million for broadband infrastructure in 2022.

To facilitate the spending of these funds, the Office of Broadband Expansion and Accessibility of Mississippi, or BEAM, was established. Southwest Mississippi Planning and Development District has partnered with BEAM to oversee the challenge process for areas that still have a poor connection or none at all, Allen Laird, grant writer, said to Adams County Supervisors during their Monday meeting.

“Mississippi received a ton of money for broadband expansion in areas that are either underserved or not served at all. What we’re trying to do is some outreach and our three main counties we’re focusing on are Adams, Lincoln and Pike,” he said. “These are areas that are mostly served but there’s a challenge process. If you have any homeowners that claim they are not served, let us know.”

Laird said if a single homeowner says that they don’t have service in an area where they should, his office will try to find nine more residents in that same area with the same issue.  Internet speed tests will be performed in the homes to prove that they are not served or underserved.

That data will then be input to get funding in those areas for broadband improvements where otherwise they “would not be getting any,” he said.

Natchez Adams School District should have a list of students who weren’t able to get on the internet during COVID-19, said Supervisor Ricky Gray. “That’s a list of areas … maybe we need to reach out to them.”

Anyone can and have their address input to see if they should be getting service or not.

“It’s going to take a lot of cooperation,” Laird said.

Residents can contact the Southwest Mississippi Planning and Development District office at 601-446-6044.