JACKSON — Mississippi House of Representative Becky Currie introduced legislation to help expand broadband access in Copiah County Tuesday. House Bill 474 would expand broadband access to unserved areas of Copiah County and 5,105 unserved residents there. 

According to the Mississippi Broadband Office, 37.16 percent of Copiah County is unserved by broadband access. An additional 7.5 percent of the county is underserved by broadband access. 

If passed, HB474 would appropriate $1,460,000 to the Copiah County Board of Supervisors for the purpose of expanding broadband access to unserved areas. The money in this bill could be used by supervisors to either provide broadband services directly or through another entity that currently provides broadband service in Copiah County. 

The bill is filed under appropriations and was referred to the Appropriations A committee. Money appropriated by HB474 would have to be spent in Fiscal Year 2025 which is from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025.

Check back for more updates on the 2024 Mississippi Legislative Session.