Helping Mississippians Afford Broadband Act; create.

HB 217 creates the "Helping Mississippians Afford Broadband Act," appropriating $100 million from Mississippi's Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund to help eligible households afford broadband. It directly affects households already approved for federal Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) or Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) benefits, providing up to $15 monthly in financial assistance paid directly to broadband providers to lower household costs. The program requires the Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services to administer the assistance with oversight from the Wireless Communication Commission, focusing on ensuring support reaches underserved communities.