Appropriation; MDA to establish Rural Broadband Pilot Grant Program.

HB 1997 appropriates $10 million from the state general fund to the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) to create a Rural Broadband Pilot Grant Program for fiscal year 2027. It directly assists small towns and municipalities with populations under 10,000 that lack adequate broadband service, requiring applicants to provide a 10% local match. The program funds eligible costs like broadband infrastructure construction (fiber, wireless), planning, equipment, and related deployment expenses. Grants are awarded competitively, with the MDA coordinating with federal broadband funding to avoid duplication and maximize resource efficiency.