Technology (Broadband Access)

HB 543 creates a grant program to help businesses expand cellular and broadband access in Mississippi's rural areas. It directly affects businesses operating in counties with ≤30,000 people or municipalities with ≤10,000 people, as defined by the latest census. The Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) will administer grants covering up to 25% of project costs for infrastructure improvements. The program is funded by $15 million in state bonds, with unspent funds rolling over annually instead of lapsing. The bonds must be issued by July 1, 2029, to support this initiative.

SB 3062 updates Mississippi's tax incentives for broadband infrastructure by raising minimum speed requirements and adding budget caps. It revises the definition of eligible equipment to require fixed broadband to meet current FCC speed benchmarks (instead of the previous 35 Mbps down/3 Mbps up standard) for property tax exemptions on equipment placed in service between 2025-2030. The bill also limits annual tax credits to $15 million total ($1.5 million per company) and prohibits credits if equipment costs were covered by federal BEAD program funds. These changes directly affect telecommunications companies deploying broadband in Mississippi's designated Tier areas (Tier One to Three), impacting their tax liability for qualifying equipment investments.

HB 1644 revises Mississippi's tax incentives for telecommunications companies deploying broadband infrastructure. It establishes tiered tax credits (5-15% of equipment costs) based on rural area designations (Tier One to Three), with annual limits of $15 million total and $1.5 million per company. The bill prohibits credits for equipment paid for via the federal BEAD broadband program and requires companies to submit sworn equipment descriptions to county tax assessors by April 1 to claim property tax exemptions for equipment placed in service between 2025-2030. These exemptions last 10 years for fixed broadband and 5 years for mobile broadband, subject to FCC speed benchmarks.