AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 77-3-2, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO DECLARE THAT IT IS THE POLICY OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI TO SUPPORT DEPLOYMENT OF EXISTING AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES TO FOSTER RELIABLE AND RESILIENT SERVICE AND CUSTOMER ACCESS TO ENHANCED SERVICES; TO PROVIDE THAT THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION IS AUTHORIZED AND EMPOWERED TO ENTER INTO CONTRACTS WITH FEDERAL AGENCIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION AND THE NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS INFORMATION AGENCY, OR STATE AGENCIES, FOR THE PURPOSES ONLY OF PROVIDING SERVICES FOR THE COLLECTION OF DATA FOR MAPPING OF BROADBAND AVAILABILITY; TO AMEND SECTION 77-3-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCLUDE DEFINITIONS OF "BROADBAND SERVICE PROVIDER," "BROADBAND OPERATOR," "ELECTRIC DELIVERY SYSTEM" AND "ENHANCED GRID INVESTMENTS"; TO AMEND SECTION 77-3-44, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCLUDE FIBER-OPTIC INFRASTRUCTURE AND ENHANCED GRID INVESTMENTS AS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY, TO ALLOW RATE-REGULATED ELECTRIC UTILITIES TO PERMIT BROADBAND PROVIDERS USE OF THE ELECTRIC DELIVERY SYSTEM TO PROVIDE BROADBAND SERVICES, TO REGULATE EASEMENTS, TO ALLOW CERTAIN ENTITIES TO CONSTRUCT FIBER-OPTIC INFRASTRUCTURE ON PUBLIC UTILITIES' EXISTING RIGHTS-OF-WAY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 77-3-2, 77-3-3, 77-3-44
Committee Substitute: 77-3-2, 77-3-3, 77-3-44
As Passed by the House: 77-3-2, 77-3-3, 77-3-44