Okolona hoping to provide high-speed internet in the future
Credit: WTVA ABC Tupelo, MS
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Has made high speed internet a necessity since many are learning and working from home ... wtva's chelsea brown is in okolona with how the city hopes to help rural areas get internet ... i am here along main street in okolona in front of the city's electric department.
One issue the city is battling now is the lack of high speed internet.
I spoke with the mayor about his plans to find a solution to the problem ."
" sherman carouthers- mayor okolona "right now the city of okolona we can not go in the internet business" an almost 100 year old law in mississippi does not allow cities are not allowed to provide internet.
They can only provide things like electricity, water and sewage.
Brandon presley- public service commisioner "but that doesn't mean all hope is lost, it causes us to go back to the drawing board and come up with a new plan."
"we will continue to work hard to seek an opportunity to get the legislature changed."
Okolona's mayor sherman carothers has tried to get the law changed over the past few years.
Brandon presley, public service commisioner, thinks a better solution would be for okolona electric to partner with the surounding epa's to provide internet.
"look at a partnership that would bring in the city of okolona and also working with those providers that are already funded."
Carouthers says many customers of okolona electric have to go and find a wifi hotspot so they can do school work or their jobs.
"with covid as rampid as it is it is no longer a luxury, it is a necessity."
While carouthers and presley have different plans they share a common goal, to provide high speed internet to the customers.
"i want to see every house that recevies electricity from the city of okolona and the rural areas to have high class broadband connection."
Presley hopes to be able to meet with city officials and others involved to work on finding a solution after the first of the year..
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