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Exploring Broadband Adoption in Mississippi

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Publication Number: P4036
View as PDF: P4036.pdf

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.

Bar chart shows the 2022 broadband (any type) subscription rates for several U.S. regions: Mississippi, 80 percent; neighboring states, 84.1 percent; southern states (excluding Mississippi), 87.3 percent, and non-Mississippi states, 88.4 percent.
Figure 1. Broadband (any type) subscription rates, 2022.
Bar chart shows the 2022 fixed broadband subscription rates for several U.S. regions: Mississippi, 55.1 percent; neighboring states, 64.9 percent; southern states excluding Mississippi, 71.2 percent, and non-Mississippi states, 73.5 percent.
Figure 2. Fixed broadband subscription rates, 2022.

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. Internet subscription rates by broadband types, 2022.
 

MS

Neighboring States5

Southern States (excluding MS)

Non-MS States

Internet subscribed

80.2%

84.3%

87.5%

88.6%

–Broadband of any type1

80%

84.1%

87.7%

88.4%

Fixed broadband2

55.1%

64.9%

71.6%

73.5%

Cellular data plan

73.58%

76.89%

80.2%

81.14%

(Only cellular data3)

18.36%

14.36%

12.10%

11.17%

Satellite internet service

10.82%

7.82%

7.22%

6.71%

–Dial-up4

0.16%

0.20%

0.16%

0.19%

Non-internet subscribed

19.81%

15.71%

12.53%

11.39%

Total households

1,121,269

7,583,743

46,823,082

124,615,084

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).

Mississippi map shows the percentages of broadband (any type) subscription rates in each county. Refer to Table A1 in the Appendix for more information.
Figure 3a. Broadband subscription rates by Mississippi counties, 2022.
Mississippi map shows the percentages of fixed broadband subscription rates in each county. Refer to Table A1 in the Appendix for more information.
Figure 3b. Fixed broadband subscription rates by Mississippi counties, 2022.

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

Map of Mississippi counties highlighting metro counties: Tunica, DeSoto, Tate, Marshall,and  Benton in the northern region; Yazoo, Madison, Hinds, Rankin, Copiah, and Simpson in the central region; and Lamar, Forrest, Perry, Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson in the southern region.
Figure A1. Map of metropolitan areas in Mississippi.

 

Map of Mississippi counties divided into four regions: Delta, Northeast, Central, and Coastal. Metro counties within each region are highlighted with dotted lines: Tunica, DeSoto, Tate, and Yazoo in the Delta Region; Marshall and Benton in the Northeast Region; Madison, Hinds, Rankin, Copiah, and Simpson in the Central Region; and Lamar, Forrest, Perry, Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson in the Coastal Region
Figure A2. Map of Mississippi Extension regions.
Table A1. Broadband subscription rates by Mississippi county.

County

Metro/Non-metro

MS Extension Region

Total Households

Subscription Rates

Broadband (any type)

Fixed Broadband

Adams

Non-metro

Central

11,618

81.30%

52.76%

Alcorn

Non-metro

Northeast

13,975

73.19%

51.13%

Amite

Non-metro

Central

5,834

68.75%

30.67%

Attala

Non-metro

Central

6,311

77.12%

40.64%

Benton

Metro

Northeast

3,086

61.80%

26.51%

Bolivar

Non-metro

Delta

11,704

74.62%

51.75%

Calhoun

Non-metro

Northeast

5,641

76.07%

52.72%

Carroll

Non-metro

Delta

4,037

62.37%

39.58%

Chickasaw

Non-metro

Northeast

6,767

68.26%

42.69%

Choctaw

Non-metro

Northeast

3,532

79.59%

44.93%

Claiborne

Non-metro

Central

2,624

74.01%

44.70%

Clarke

Non-metro

Coastal

6,117

75.58%

44.37%

Clay

Non-metro

Northeast

7,582

79.36%

45.23%

Coahoma

Non-metro

Delta

8,387

73.92%

27.67%

Copiah

Metro

Central

9,841

70.81%

43.67%

Covington

Non-metro

Coastal

6,954

60.43%

28.27%

DeSoto

Metro

Delta

68,353

90.83%

73.02%

Forrest

Metro

Coastal

29,351

82.09%

57.00%

Franklin

Non-metro

Central

2,974

82.82%

50.77%

George

Non-metro

Coastal

8,978

75.51%

42.37%

Greene

Non-metro

Coastal

3,910

68.47%

30.18%

Grenada

Non-metro

Delta

8,434

76.11%

51.49%

Hancock

Metro

Coastal

19,386

84.45%

61.54%

Harrison

Metro

Coastal

80,191

85.94%

68.06%

Hinds

Metro

Central

89,585

86.70%

65.00%

Holmes

Non-metro

Delta

5,798

62.95%

35.44%

Humphreys

Non-metro

Delta

2,991

70.14%

38.65%

Issaquena

Non-metro

Delta

392

35.97%

11.48%

Itawamba

Non-metro

Northeast

8,976

78.41%

48.73%

Jackson

Metro

Coastal

55,373

86.39%

66.75%

Jasper

Non-metro

Coastal

6,447

55.25%

36.53%

Jefferson

Non-metro

Central

2,530

86.96%

49.37%

Jefferson Davis

Non-metro

Coastal

4,453

70.40%

39.43%

Jones

Non-metro

Coastal

24,323

67.33%

42.98%

Kemper

Non-metro

Coastal

3,143

70.35%

37.16%

Lafayette

Non-metro

Northeast

18,702

89.00%

70.56%

Lamar

Metro

Coastal

24,896

88.62%

59.60%

Lauderdale

Non-metro

Coastal

28,349

81.15%

58.60%

Lawrence

Non-metro

Central

4,473

59.33%

27.48%

Leake

Non-metro

Central

7,369

70.44%

31.21%

Lee

Non-metro

Northeast

32,001

81.04%

58.03%

Leflore

Non-metro

Delta

9,656

54.70%

34.12%

Lincoln

Non-metro

Central

13,070

80.49%

46.60%

Lowndes

Non-metro

Northeast

22,651

84.84%

57.47%

Madison

Metro

Central

42,182

91.17%

75.44%

Marion

Non-metro

Coastal

9,102

72.36%

34.71%

Marshall

Metro

Northeast

12,797

77.93%

39.07%

Monroe

Non-metro

Northeast

13,410

83.41%

46.79%

Montgomery

Non-metro

Delta

3,830

71.93%

42.27%

Neshoba

Non-metro

Coastal

10,199

75.59%

41.56%

Newton

Non-metro

Coastal

7,706

69.11%

42.21%

Noxubee

Non-metro

Northeast

3,696

69.56%

23.05%

Oktibbeha

Non-metro

Northeast

21,165

80.68%

60.67%

Panola

Non-metro

Delta

12,392

71.38%

35.92%

Pearl River

Non-metro

Coastal

21,188

80.32%

60.84%

Perry

Metro

Coastal

4,462

74.97%

41.33%

Pike

Non-metro

Central

14,745

76.93%

52.19%

Pontotoc

Non-metro

Northeast

11,630

72.52%

34.91%

Prentiss

Non-metro

Northeast

9,296

78.59%

53.94%

Quitman

Non-metro

Delta

2,656

63.29%

21.54%

Rankin

Metro

Central

58,982

89.27%

70.96%

Scott

Non-metro

Central

9,696

74.34%

41.00%

Sharkey

Non-metro

Delta

1,374

58.08%

35.66%

Simpson

Metro

Central

9,534

73.13%

40.34%

Smith

Non-metro

Central

5,450

54.48%

33.56%

Stone

Non-metro

Coastal

6,517

74.30%

45.90%

Sunflower

Non-metro

Delta

8,136

67.54%

32.73%

Tallahatchie

Non-metro

Delta

4,301

66.10%

16.25%

Tate

Metro

Delta

10,496

79.99%

53.80%

Tippah

Non-metro

Northeast

8,091

73.76%

52.94%

Tishomingo

Non-metro

Northeast

8,463

71.37%

40.16%

Tunica

Metro

Delta

3,595

83.98%

43.84%

Union

Non-metro

Northeast

10,227

74.66%

49.82%

Walthall

Non-metro

Central

5,290

71.23%

25.39%

Warren

Non-metro

Central

16,823

78.46%

57.76%

Washington

Non-metro

Delta

17,290

57.13%

36.63%

Wayne

Non-metro

Coastal

7,410

78.16%

35.71%

Webster

Non-metro

Northeast

4,065

76.36%

43.37%

Wilkinson

Non-metro

Central

3,264

70.77%

42.83%

Winston

Non-metro

Northeast

7,131

69.51%

33.09%

Yalobusha

Non-metro

Northeast

5,106

71.52%

36.39%

Yazoo

Metro

Delta

8,807

74.40%

41.80%

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.

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