We, citizens of Mississippi, hereby petition Senator Roger Wicker as Chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee and President Donald J. Trump to take any and all immediate action to accelerate the disbursement of existing federal dollars from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) held at the FCC. RDOF would, by some estimates, provide up to $940,000,000 in funding for Mississippi and a total of $20.4 billion across America that’s desperately needed NOW to provide high-speed rural broadband internet service to unserved and underserved areas. Furthermore, these funds are already in place and do not require appropriation by Congress. These funds have been designated for broadband expansion since before the COVID-19 crisis. The FCC has proper rules in place to safeguard the program. The FCC plans to wait until October to conduct the process of awarding the funds delaying construction unnecessarily for five months or more. There is no reason to wait. Mississippi and America can put people to work and connect our citizens with these dollars that are sitting idle.

Broadband internet access is the lifeline that many need now more than ever in Mississippi. This crisis has shown this more that anything before. The reality that many cannot utilize online opportunities by having access to this resource is holding our people back. The fact that many Mississippians have no connection to the internet is unacceptable to us. Accelerating RDOF funds will benefit all Mississippians by getting broadband projects started NOW rather than waiting until later this year. Every day counts and we need people connected as soon as possible. Again, there is no reason to wait until October when our people are hurting and need service. Furthermore, many rural electric cooperative projects are awaiting these funds and have committed to doing their part to bridge the digital divide, if given the tools through RDOF. Co-ops and others could be starting construction, if the funds were awarded. Again, there is no reason to wait until October.

We, the undersigned of this petition, hereby request Senator Wicker as Chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee to implore the FCC to accelerate the disbursement of RDOF funds BEFORE the current October date and if the FCC refuses to do, we ask Senator Wicker to introduce legislation immediately or in the next stimulus package to do so. Senator Wicker has long been a strong champion of broadband service and Mississippi needs his leadership now more than ever. We further ask President Donald J. Trump to use any and all executive authority as President to expedite this process if the FCC refuses to act.