Hinds County, MS High Speed Internet
The Issue
Most citizens of unincorporated parts of Hinds County, Mississippi still DO NOT have access to high-speed Internet services.
High-speed Internet or "Broadband" is defined, by the FCC, as service that has speeds of AT LEAST 25 megabits per second (mbps) for downloads and 3 mbps for uploads. See:
Most Hinds County homeowners, if they have any Internet access at all, are most likely limited to outdated and unreliable DSL service that is very slow with speeds as low as 1 mbps download and 0.25 mbps upload. Satellite internet has failed, for most subscribers, to deliver advertised speeds and reliability due to its high latency (lag) design, throttled speeds, and weather sensitivity. Cellular companies offer some relief with phones, tablets and hotspots, however even plans labeled as "unlimited" are actually capped at unrealistic monthly usage thresholds for this decade, slowing speeds down to DSL and lower, once your plan limit is reached.
The lack of high-speed Internet in our county unfairly and unnecessarily deprives many citizens of the required level of internet access needed to effectively utilize the plethora of modern and advanced educational, governmental, medical, and consumer services that are available on the Internet. In the current pandemic, with the need for more telework and video-conferencing has pushed this issue to the boiling point.
As a rural community with significant time and distance challenges to conveniently and efficiently reach services, one can argue that high-speed internet is much more essential to rural communities than urban ones.
It is time for Hinds County to move into the 21st century! We call on all of our county leadership, as well as internet providers, to step up and proactively pursue fiber installation or fixed wireless internet offerings on all public roads in Hinds county, and to census residents as to their willingness to have cabling/equipment installed to their homes. Affordable (actual) high speed internet, with a high monthly data cap of 1 terabyte (Tb) or, alternatively, truly unlimited, is our request.
The Issue
Most citizens of unincorporated parts of Hinds County, Mississippi still DO NOT have access to high-speed Internet services.
High-speed Internet or "Broadband" is defined, by the FCC, as service that has speeds of AT LEAST 25 megabits per second (mbps) for downloads and 3 mbps for uploads. See:
Most Hinds County homeowners, if they have any Internet access at all, are most likely limited to outdated and unreliable DSL service that is very slow with speeds as low as 1 mbps download and 0.25 mbps upload. Satellite internet has failed, for most subscribers, to deliver advertised speeds and reliability due to its high latency (lag) design, throttled speeds, and weather sensitivity. Cellular companies offer some relief with phones, tablets and hotspots, however even plans labeled as "unlimited" are actually capped at unrealistic monthly usage thresholds for this decade, slowing speeds down to DSL and lower, once your plan limit is reached.
The lack of high-speed Internet in our county unfairly and unnecessarily deprives many citizens of the required level of internet access needed to effectively utilize the plethora of modern and advanced educational, governmental, medical, and consumer services that are available on the Internet. In the current pandemic, with the need for more telework and video-conferencing has pushed this issue to the boiling point.
As a rural community with significant time and distance challenges to conveniently and efficiently reach services, one can argue that high-speed internet is much more essential to rural communities than urban ones.
It is time for Hinds County to move into the 21st century! We call on all of our county leadership, as well as internet providers, to step up and proactively pursue fiber installation or fixed wireless internet offerings on all public roads in Hinds county, and to census residents as to their willingness to have cabling/equipment installed to their homes. Affordable (actual) high speed internet, with a high monthly data cap of 1 terabyte (Tb) or, alternatively, truly unlimited, is our request.
Petition Updates
Share this petition
Petition created on August 19, 2020