Bill Text: MS SB2783 | 2026 | Regular Session | Engrossed
Bill Title: BEAM; amend definitions for "applicant" and "eligible project" and add "retail end user."
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)
Status: (Failed) 2026-03-03 - Died In Committee [SB2783 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2026-SB2783-Engrossed.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2026 Regular Session
To: Energy
By: Senator(s) Parks
Senate Bill 2783
(As Passed the Senate)
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 77-19-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AMEND THE DEFINITIONS FOR "APPLICANT" AND "ELIGIBLE PROJECT," TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN PROJECTS FUNDING SERVICES TO RETAIL END USERS AND PROJECTS OTHER THAN THOSE FUNDING SERVICES TO RETAIL END USERS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 77-19-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
77-19-3. As used in this chapter:
(a) For projects funding services to retail end users, "Applicant" means an eligible broadband service provider that has authorization to do business in this state and has demonstrated that it has the technical, financial and managerial resources and experience to provide broadband services in the state to retail end users. For projects other than those funding services to retail end users, "applicant" means any entity eligible for the grant program under the applicable state or federal grant programs statutes, rules, regulations or guidance.
(b) "Broadband service" means a mass-market retail service by wire, cable, fiber, or radio provided to customers in the State of Mississippi that provides the capability to transmit data to, and receive data from, all or substantially all Internet endpoints, at speeds of at least one hundred (100) megabits per second downstream and twenty (20) megabits per second upstream, and including, but not limited to, any capabilities that are incidental to and enable the operation of communications service, but excluding dial-up Internet access service.
(c) "Office" means the Office of Broadband Expansion and Accessibility of Mississippi (BEAM) within the Department of Finance and Administration created in Section 77-19-5.
(d) "Deployed" means, with respect to availability of broadband service at a location, when the person or entity has access regardless of whether a person or entity subscribes to the broadband service at the location.
(e) "Eligible broadband service provider" means any company, firm, corporation, limited liability company, partnership or association (i) that has been providing broadband service to at least one hundred (100) residences and businesses in Mississippi for at least three (3) consecutive years; (ii) is an electric power association's broadband affiliate operating pursuant to Section 77-17-1 et seq.; or (iii) that has demonstrated financial, technical, and operational capability in building and operating a broadband network.
(f) For grants to fund services to retail end users, "Eligible project" means a discrete and specific project located in an unserved or underserved area of the state seeking to provide broadband services to residences, businesses, and community institutions not currently available for service in accordance with the applicable federal guidelines. For programs other than those funding services to retail end users, "eligible project" means any entity eligible under the applicable state or federal grant programs statutes, rules, regulations or guidance.
(g) "Shapefile" means a digital storage format containing geospatial or location-based data and attribute information regarding the availability of broadband Internet access service, and that can be viewed, edited, and mapped in geographic information system software.
(h) "Retail end user" means any person or entity that purchases broadband service from a broadband service provider, for its own use or for the purpose of providing broadband service to others.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.
