Mississippi cooperatives taking a close look at rural internet [View all]

TUPELO • Since the first of the year, companies that conduct economic feasibility studies in Mississippi have been swamped by requests from electric cooperatives.

They all want to know the same thing – Can we afford to run fiber optic cable to provide high-speed internet to our rural customers?

“We contracted with the National Rural Telecommunications Council to do a feasibility study,” said Chuck Howell, manager of the Pontotoc Electric Power Association. “We’re working to get them data and maps. They are swamped right now, so we will have to wait our turn.”

Tim Wigginton of the Tishomingo County EPA agreed. The cooperative commissioned a study months ago and is still waiting for the initial results.

Read more: https://www.djournal.com/news/mississippi-cooperatives-taking-a-close-look-at-rural-internet/article_6716c643-1fd1-5dc2-a4df-5a223559e810.html