Daily Journal - January 16, 2019

Yesterday the Mississippi House voted on the Rural Broadband Enabling Act. On the surface this sounds like a great idea because who could be against folks in rural Mississippi getting high speed internet. But as always, government is not as it appears and there is more happening behind the scenes.

I voted NO because everyone involved in this discussion, from the top of government to the local electric cooperatives have admitted that this bill will do little to nothing to help anyone in rural MS get internet. I also believe this is the open door to get government involved in broadband by slowing giving the Public Service Commission oversight of broadband suppliers.

I do not vote for legislation that is designed to fool the people into thinking government has solved a problem when it does nothing, so I voted NO on this bill. The stated purpose of this bill was to give legislators "cover" so they could tell "their folks" they had done something to solve the broadband problem. When in reality everyone knows this bill will not solve any problem, and I believe has the potential to create bigger government in the future.

My parents live in rural Tippah county and I own land there I one day hope to live on, so I would love to solve this problem. But I promise you, like always, government involvement will not solve this issue.

Only 2 electric co-ops have indicated this is something they will even consider. Providing high speed internet to the guy at the end of the road in rural Mississippi is too expensive for AT&T or Comcast and it’s too expensive for the electric co-ops..