Special To The Mississippi Link
JACKSON – As Mississippi continues its effort to increase high-speed Internet service to every community throughout the state, Gov. Haley Barbour has announced a new “Broadband For Mississippi” Web site, which will feature a tool that outlines the availability of broadband across the state.
The site, at www.broadband.ms.gov, allows Mississippians to learn more about broadband technology and what it means to their community. The site also explains the state’s initiatives to improve access to broadband for all residents and allows visitors to test the speed of their current Internet service.
“Expanding Internet access through the latest and fastest technologies is critical to the state’s economic development, education and health care sectors,” Gov. Barbour said. “This site will be another way for Mississippians to learn about broadband technology and how it can help their lives.”
Broadband is high-speed Internet service made available through local telephone or cable providers which increases over wireless networks. Faster than traditional dial-up service, broadband allows users to search the web and download e-mail faster, which increases the productivity of businesses, improves access to educational resources and supports the latest in health care services.
Many studies have shown that increased broadband use leads to: a more productive workforce, greater economic development, better opportunities for education from kindergarten to adult continuing education, and better health care services and reduced costs.
In August 2010, the State of Mississippi was awarded a $70 million federal grant, from the U.S. Department of Commerce, to improve emergency communications capabilities among the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, law enforcement and other first responders.
Barbour said the state’s first responders needed the ability to transmit data quickly such as patient’s vital signs or medical data in an emergency situation. He also said the grant would upgrade their system’s technology “so MEMA, law enforcement, fire departments and medical personnel could respond quickly and save lives.”
The grant funds allowed for the upgrade of the current Mississippi Wireless Information Network, which allows public safety agencies statewide to contact each other through radio systems clearly and quickly. The grant will enable first responders to transmit data wirelessly as needed, and the program will serve 90 hospitals, 340 ambulances and up to 9,900 public safety workers in Mississippi.
In September 2010, Mississippi received an additional $5 million for broadband mapping and planning activities.
Broadband For Mississippi is part of a more than $7 million effort to evaluate and enhance the availability of broadband technology statewide. The program, which is managed by the Mississippi Broadband Task Force, is funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
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