Gov. Phil Bryant signs bill allowing electric co-ops to provide internet

JACKSON, Miss. (WCBI) – Mississippi’s 25 electric cooperatives now have legal authority to offer high-speed internet service.

Governor Phil Bryant signed House Bill 366 Wednesday.

Cooperatives provide electricity to nearly 800,000 Mississippi customers, and this law allows the co-ops to enter the internet business.

Cooperatives aren’t required to offer and current customers wouldn’t be required to buy service.

The law allows them to invest money, loan money or guarantee loans to affiliates, but says they can’t use revenue from electric sales to subsidize broadband.