AARP Mississippi, Mississippi Public Service Commission To Host Broadband Tech Night Workshop In Collins

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AARP Mississippi and the Mississippi Public Service Commission will host a Broadband Tech Night Workshop at the Collins Civic Center, located on 3220 U.S. 49 in Collins at 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 6, 2019. The workshop will feature AARP Mississippi representatives and Sam Britton, Southern District Public Service Commissioner.

The workshop will cover how broadband can help improve the quality of life for people of all ages and help older Mississippians live independently in their homes and communities. The workshop will also explain how broadband access can help combat social isolation and improve well-being by supporting services like distance learning and telehealth.

Governor Phil Bryant recently signed the Mississippi Broadband Enabling Act into law. The new law allows the state’s electric power associations to provide broadband services to rural areas across the state.

“AARP Mississippi looks forward to partnering with the Mississippi Public Service Commission to present the Broadband Tech Night Workshop in Collins,” said AARP Mississippi State Director Kimberly L. Campbell, Esq. “We believe access to broadband is an important quality of life issue for Mississippians who live in rural areas.”

According to America’s Digital Divide, a report by the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee, 60 percent of rural Mississippians do not have access to broadband. The Federal Communications Commission has found that 79 percent of Mississippi households are not connected to the internet at speeds defined as broadband – 25 megabits per second download speed and three megabits per second upload speed.

To register to attend the Broadband Tech Night Workshop, call 1- 877-926-8300. Refreshments will be served.