Media Contact: Oleta Garret Fitzgerald, 601-321,1966, ofitzgerald@childrensdefense.org; Children’s Defense Fund Southern Regional Office / Southern Rural Black Women’s Initiative
JACKSON, MS—As Mississippi’s public comment window for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Draft Final Proposal closes, Children’s Defense Fund–Southern Regional Office (CDF-SRO) and the Southern Rural Black Women’s Initiative (SRBWI) are calling on the Office of Broadband Expansion and Accessibility of Mississippi (BEAM) to strengthen accountability, affordability, and equity in the state’s broadband internet rollout, even within the limits set by recent federal rule changes.
“Because these networks are being built with grant dollars that Internet Service Providers (ISPs) will not have to repay, it is especially important that families see real benefits in the form of affordable service,” said Oleta Garrett Fitzgerald, Regional Director of the Children’s Defense Fund’s Southern Regional Office and Convener of the Southern Rural Black Women’s Initiative. “Public dollars must guarantee public good.”
CDF and SRBWI applaud BEAM’s prioritization of durable, scalable fiber, but raised concerns about the limited seven-day comment period, the removal of community anchor institutions, and the lack of clarity around what “low-cost” broadband will mean for families. The organizations stressed that communities—particularly rural, low-income, and Black communities—must not be left behind in the rollout. We encourage BEAM to:
- Engage local residents, especially in rural areas and communities of color, in the execution of broadband projects, ensuring their voices shape how service is rolled out in their communities.
- Support local workforce development by paying fair wages, partnering with the state on training programs, and creating good jobs in communities where opportunities are scarce.
- Publish transparent county-level maps that clearly show the areas where ISPs will be working, so families, community leaders, local governments, businesses, and institutions can understand what is planned in their area and hold providers accountable.
- Provide regular, plain-language updates on the progress of broadband buildout so communities know how projects are advancing and when service will reach them.
- Closely monitor implementation to ensure the commitments in the Final Draft Proposal are carried out correctly, equitably, and affordably.
“The window is short, but the stakes are high,” said Fitzgerald. “Mississippi has a historic opportunity to ensure this $1.2 billion delivers affordable, reliable, and equitable service. What’s at stake is whether every community is truly connected to education, healthcare, and economic opportunity for decades to come.”
Read the full public comment document here.