Exploring Broadband Adoption in Mississippi

Key Takeaways

1. Mississippi’s broadband adoption rate is comparatively lower than other states.The fixed broadband adoption rate is significantly lower than broadband (any type) adoption rates statewide.
2. The Delta Region, which consists primarily of rural counties, has lower broadband adoption rates compared to other Mississippi regions.

Introduction

Broadband internet facilitates modern daily activities such as online education, remote work, telehealth, e-commerce, and social media. Beyond these conveniences, broadband also plays a critical role in empowering communities, driving employment, creating business opportunities, enhancing civic engagement, facilitating political participation, and improving public education. Much attention has been given to developing broadband infrastructure to increase broadband availability. While ensuring broadband availability is a significant first step, it is not enough to fully realize the socioeconomic benefits associated with broadband. Beyond availability, broadband adoption—internet subscription and use by households and businesses—is equally critical.Adoption rates are influenced by various factors such as affordability, digital literacy, perceived relevance to daily life, and individual preferences. For example, even when broadband services are accessible, some households may decide not to subscribe due to concerns about costs or a lack of awareness about the potential advantages. Therefore, efforts should also emphasize strategies to increase adoption rates alongside expanding broadband infrastructure.

This publication analyzes broadband adoption rates in Mississippi and compares them with neighboring states (Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Louisiana), other southern states (excluding Mississippi),¹ and non-Mississippi states (all other U.S. states except Mississippi), providing a comprehensive regional perspective. In March 2024, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) changed the minimum broadband speed to 100 megabits per second (Mbps) download and 20 Mbps upload. However, the data in this report are based on the earlier standard of 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload due to data availability. We also consider two categories of broadband: 1) Broadband (any type), which includes broadband internet connection using fixed broadband (cable, fiber-optic, or digital subscriber line [DSL]), cellular data plans, and satellite internet services, and 2) Fixed broadband, which only includes high-speed broadband connection through cable, fiber-optic, or DSL. We use the data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates.

¹ The southern states are considered those in the U.S. Census South Region: Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Comparing Broadband Adoption in Mississippi with Other States

Mississippi has the lowest adoption rates for both any type of broadband and fixed broadband among all U.S. states. To better understand Mississippi’s position, this section compares its broadband adoption rates with those of neighboring states, other southern states, and all other U.S. states. Figure 1 shows that the broadband (any type) subscription rate for Mississippi is 80 percent; neighboring states (Alabama, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Louisiana) report a slightly higher rate of 84.1 percent; southern states (excluding Mississippi) have a subscription rate of 87.3 percent; and non-Mississippi states have the highest subscription rate at 88.4 percent. These statistics highlight that Mississippi’s adoption rate is lower than other states’. Mississippi lags by 4.1 percentage points compared to neighboring states, 7.3 percentage points behind southern states, and 8.4 percentage points behind all other states.

When considering only fixed broadband, Mississippi’s broadband adoption rate is significantly lower, and the regional gap is wider. Mississippi’s fixed broadband adoption rate is 55.1 percent, which lags behind the subscription rate for neighboring states at 64.9 percent, southern states at 71.2 percent, and non-Mississippi states at 73.5 percent (Figure 2). The difference between Mississippi’s high-speed fixed broadband subscription rate and its overall broadband (any type) subscription rate is nearly 25 percentage points. This statistic underscores that Mississippi’s fixed broadband adoption rate lags significantly behind, falling 9.8 percentage points behind neighboring states, 16.5 percentage points behind other southern states, and 18.4 percentage points behind all other U.S. states. These gaps in fixed broadband adoption highlight Mississippi’s primary challenge: the need for increasing the adoption of high-speed fixed broadband to ensure faster and more reliable internet connections.

Figures 1 and 2 notes: 1) The definition of broadband in Figures 1 and 2 is high-speed internet with a minimum speed of 25/3 Mbps, as previously established by the FCC in 2015. 2) Broadband of any type includes fixed broadband (such as cable, fiber optic, or DSL), cellular data plan, and satellite internet services. 3) Neighboring states include Alabama, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Arkansas. 4) Non-Mississippi states include all other U.S. states except Mississippi. Data source: American Community Survey, 2022 (5-year Estimates), U.S. Census Bureau.

Table 1 complements this comparison by detailing the types of internet subscriptions across Mississippi, neighboring states, southern states (excluding Mississippi), and non-Mississippi states. About one out of five Mississippi households (19.8 percent) live without internet subscriptions. In comparison, neighboring states have a lower percentage at 15.71 percent, other southern states at 12.53 percent, and non-Mississippi states at 11.39 percent non-internet-subscribed households. The percentage of households with a cellular data plan with no other type of internet and satellite subscriptions in Mississippi is 18.36 percent and 10.82 percent, respectively, which is higher than in other states. These statistics do not distinguish between households in Mississippi that prefer cellular data plans and satellite services versus households that have cellular data plans or satellite services because these are their only options to connect to the internet. However, these comparisons underscore that a higher percentage of households lack faster, high-quality internet in Mississippi compared to other U.S. states.

Table 1 notes: 1) The definition of broadband in this table is high-speed internet with a minimum speed of 25/3 Mbps, as previously established by the FCC in 2015. 2) Broadband of any type includes fixed broadband (such as cable, fiber optic, or DSL), cellular data plan, and satellite internet services. 3) Only cellular data plan with no other type of internet subscriptions. 4) Dial-up internet refers to a form of internet access using a modem and a standard telephone line. 5) Neighboring states include Alabama, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Arkansas. Data source: American Community Survey, 2022 (5-year estimates), U.S. Census Bureau.

Broadband Adoption within Mississippi

Figure 3 presents maps of Mississippi with the percentage of households with broadband (any type) and fixed broadband subscriptions at the county level, with metropolitan counties defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget and Mississippi Extension regions (see Figures A1 and A2 in the Appendix for more detailed delineations of metropolitan areas and Mississippi Extension regions). A significant gap in broadband adoption rates between metro and non-metro counties is highlighted. Metro counties in Memphis, Jackson, Hattiesburg, and Gulfport-Biloxi metropolitan areas have comparatively higher broadband adoption rates in both broadband (any type) and fixed broadband. The four counties with the highest percentage of households having fixed broadband are Madison (75 percent), DeSoto (73 percent), Rankin (71 percent), and Lafayette (71 percent).

Figure 3 notes: 1) The definition of broadband in this figure is high-speed internet with a minimum speed of 25/3 Mbps, as previously established by the FCC in 2015. 2) Broadband of any type includes fixed broadband (such as cable, fiber optic, or DSL), cellular data plan, and satellite internet services. See more detailed delineations of metropolitan areas (Figure A1) and Mississippi Extension regions (Figure A2.) in the Appendix. Data Source: American Community Survey, 2022 (5-year Estimates), U.S. Census Bureau.

In the non-metro areas, the Delta Extension region, which is comprised of rural counties in northwest Mississippi—one of the most economically disadvantaged areas—has the lowest adoption rates for both types of broadband (Issaquena [11 percent], Tallahatchie [16 percent], and Quitman [22 percent] for fixed broadband adoption rate; Issaquena [36 percent], Leflore [55 percent], Washington [57 percent], and Sharkey [58 percent] for broadband of any type). Counties outside the Jackson metropolitan area in the Central Extension region and counties beyond the Gulfport-Biloxi metropolitan area in the Coastal Extension region have lower fixed broadband adoption rates. This pattern suggests that more research is needed to understand the differences in broadband adoption between urban and rural counties in Mississippi. Table A1 in the Appendix lists the county broadband adoption rates.

Conclusion

This publication explores the status of broadband adoption in Mississippi, including a comparative analysis with neighboring states, other southern states, and non-Mississippi states. Mississippi shows lower adoption rates for both broadband (any type) and fixed broadband compared to other states. While 80.02 percent of households in Mississippi have subscribed to broadband (any type), the subscription rate drops to 55.1 percent for fixed broadband. This finding indicates a significantly lower uptake of reliable high-speed internet services in Mississippi compared to other states. There is also a wide gap in adoption rates within the state—between metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties or across the Extension regions. Particularly, adoption rates are lower in the Delta Extension region, which is predominantly rural and one of the most economically disadvantaged areas in Mississippi. Addressing these disparities requires a comprehensive approach. It includes improving affordability, enhancing digital literacy, and developing targeted strategies considering sociodemographic factors such as age, income, race, and educational attainment. By doing so, policymakers can work toward closing these gaps and promoting digital inclusion across Mississippi.

References

Federal Communications Commission. (2015). 2015 broadband progress report.

Federal Communications Commission. (2024). FCC increases broadband speed benchmark.

U.S. Office of Management and Budget. (2023). Revised delineations of metropolitan statistical areas, micropolitan statistical areas, and combined statistical areas, and guidance on uses of the delineations of these areas. (OMB Bulletin No. 23-01).

U.S. Census Bureau. (2022). Types of computers and internet subscriptions: 2017-2022 American Community Survey 5-year estimates.

Appendix

Data Source: American Community Survey, 2022 (5-year Estimates), U.S. Census Bureau.

Publication 4036 (POD-09-24)

By Sabina Regmi, PhD student, Agricultural and Resource Economics, Colorado State University, Ayoung Kim, PhD, Assistant Professor, Agricultural Economics, and Devon Mills, PhD, Assistant Professor, Agricultural Economics.