JACKSON
⢠Rural Mississippians with slow or nonexistent internet connections could get relief under two bills moving through the Legislature.
House Bill 942 would allow internet companies to lease out existing or planned âdark fiberâ lines operated by Entergy and Mississippi Power to run the electric grid. The legislation easily passed Tuesday and follows a similar proposal, Senate Bill 2798, which cleared the opposing chamber last week.
âWe need to have broadband in every home,â Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann told reporters last week.
Lawmakers from both chambers are now expected to negotiate on at least one key provision included in the House bill, which could limit how many communities would ultimately benefit and receive the faster internet.