Since 2021, towns all across Mississippi have been tapping into federal broadband funds—jumping on early, securing millions, and getting their communities connected. Meanwhile, Monticello didn’t even submit an application until 2023. That’s years of missed opportunity, while the rest of Lawrence County—and much of rural Mississippi—moved forward without us.
Let’s be clear: high-speed internet isn’t a luxury anymore. It’s a necessity—for our students, our small businesses, our healthcare, and everyday life. Folks here deserve more than vague promises and patchy service. We need full coverage, reliable speeds, and real accountability to make sure every home and business in Monticello gets the broadband access they need.
That’s why my Make Monticello Strong Again! Broadband Access & Reliability Plan doesn’t just wait—it acts. It builds on what’s already in motion but raises the bar, demanding transparency, oversight, and results from day one.
Yes, we recently secured a USDA broadband grant through Premier Holdings—but big questions still haven’t been answered:
Where exactly is service being rolled out?
How are these providers being held accountable?
Are public recreation areas being prioritized ahead of households?
My plan answers those questions—and fixes the gaps. We set clear service standards, benchmarks, public reporting requirements, and deadlines. We also establish stronger oversight of internet providers to keep broadband affordable, efficient, and built for the long term.
Monticello families shouldn’t be left buffering while everyone else moves ahead. My plan gets us connected—and keeps us connected. Because Monticello deserves better broadband—and leadership that doesn’t wait to deliver it.
Faster, More Reliable Service with Weather-Resilient Infrastructure
We’ll require internet providers to build storm-resistant infrastructure so Monticello doesn’t lose service every time bad weather rolls in. No more days-long outages—we’re building systems that hold up when it counts.
We’ll set enforceable service uptime guarantees, and that means providers will have to share outage reports with the public—and get service back online within 48 hours, unless it’s a serious emergency.
Public Wi-Fi Expansion and Funding: We’ll bring free public Wi-Fi to community centers, Downtown Monticello, and key public spaces—using NTIA Broadband Grant Program, BEAM funds, and public-private partnerships to get it done without raising costs for our town.
Ensure Quality & Oversight: A dedicated Broadband Advisory Board will step in to monitor service quality, track outages, and enforce provider compliance so companies stay on task and on schedule.
Public Tracking & Mapping: We’ll roll out a real-time broadband service map so every resident knows exactly where coverage stands—and what’s coming next.
Why This Matters: Folks in Monticello are tired of internet that drops every time it rains. My plan builds stronger networks that provide continuous connectivity and transparency on broadband service quality.
Affordable Internet Without Hidden Fees
Internet shouldn’t come with sticker shock. Too many seniors, working families, and small business owners in Monticello are getting priced out or blindsided by hidden fees. That’s got to stop.
Negotiate with providers to offer low-cost plans designed for those who need them most—because no one should have to choose between groceries and getting online.
Public-Private Partnerships will help expand affordability programs across town, making sure every household has a fair shot at high-speed service.
Monitor pricing models tied to USDA broadband projects to stop monopolies before they start—and to keep rates competitive across the board.
Hold providers accountable for offering broadband subsidies for low-income households if they’re receiving public money or local contracts. No exceptions.
Make sure provider eligibility matches federal programs like the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) so residents can actually access the help that exists.
Launch a public outreach campaign so folks know what they qualify for, how to apply, and who to call if something doesn’t add up.
Encourage multiple providers to compete in Monticello—because competition means better prices, better service, and more options for everyone.
Why This Matters: Many Monticello residents face barriers to affordable internet access due to high costs and hidden fees. My plan ensures fair pricing, financial assistance for those in need, and full transparency in broadband costs.
Full Coverage for All of Monticello—Families First
Every neighborhood should matter. That means existing homes and infrastructure get equal priority—no more skipping over established parts of town just to chase new developments.
Work with electric cooperatives already serving rural Lawrence County to help expand fiber-optic internet across all of Monticello.
Put families, businesses, and economic growth ahead of recreation. Broadband rollout should prioritize households and job creators before campsites and playgrounds—because people come first.
Publish a clear timeline and coverage map from Premier Holdings so folks can see exactly where service is going and when it’s coming to their street.
Host a Broadband Provider Summit in the first 100 days—bringing internet providers to the table to present their plans, hear from the community, and hammer out service agreements that actually work for Monticello.
Conduct continuous audits of all grant-funded broadband projects to make sure taxpayer money is being used right—and that projects stay on schedule and on budget.
Create follow-up deadlines after the summit to evaluate which providers are delivering and which ones need a course correction. Transparency doesn’t end after a meeting—it’s ongoing.
Why This Matters: Public broadband initiatives should first serve families, students, and businesses to ensure no community is left behind in the digital divide.
Enforceable Milestones & Public Accountability
Deadlines shouldn’t be suggestions. Providers will face real consequences for delays. If a deadline or milestone is missed, they’ll be required to send a representative to a public town hall and explain why—face to face.
Require quarterly public progress reports from internet providers that break down service expansion, pricing updates, and infrastructure timelines—so folks know exactly where things stand.
Empower a Community Broadband Advisory Board to monitor broadband rollout and hold providers to their word.
Board Structure: The board will include one IT expert, one small business representative, one school district official, and two Monticello residents. They’ll meet every quarter to review progress and enforce what providers agreed to deliver.
Set up a public broadband complaint system with an easy-to-use online portal, so residents can report service issues and know someone’s actually tracking them.
Require a public review of all broadband contracts before they’re approved, making sure every deal is fair, transparent, and in the town’s best interest.
Why This Matters: Residents deserve a broadband expansion plan that is measurable, enforceable, and fully transparent. My plan ensures that deadlines are met and that providers are held accountable for delivering on their commitments.
Expanding Economic & Educational Opportunities Through Broadband
Position Monticello as a hub for remote work by ensuring broadband speeds meet or exceed national standards. That means attracting remote workers, entrepreneurs, and digital freelancers who want small-town life without sacrificing modern connectivity.
Work with local schools to guarantee students have stable internet access at home—because learning doesn’t stop at the classroom door. This helps close the homework gap and supports students from every part of town.
Expand telemedicine access, especially for seniors and those with limited mobility. A stronger broadband network means more access to specialists, virtual appointments, and online health monitoring—without the need to travel hours out of town.
Leverage broadband for workforce development by partnering with community colleges and trade programs. Online training, certification courses, and remote skill-building can help Monticello residents qualify for higher-paying jobs without leaving home.
Support small business growth and entrepreneurship by giving local businesses the tools they need to compete online—whether it’s e-commerce, logistics, marketing, or remote customer service. Faster internet means stronger local commerce.
Encourage new investment and business relocation by showing potential employers that Monticello is ready to support modern infrastructure needs. Companies looking to expand into rural markets want one thing first—reliable connectivity.
Why This Matters: High-speed internet access is directly tied to economic growth, job creation, and educational success. Expanding broadband in Monticello will open new opportunities for residents and local businesses—making it easier to learn, earn, and grow right here at home.
Explore Starlink for Emergency Broadband Access
Explore integration of Starlink into Monticello’s emergency response plans to provide backup connectivity during storms, floods, or infrastructure failures—when traditional networks are most likely to go down.
Ensure first responders, police, fire departments, and medical facilities can stay connected during crises. Satellite-based internet offers a layer of communication security when time and coordination are critical.
Assess Starlink’s capabilities as a disaster-resilient network for use at emergency shelters, mobile command centers, and rural infrastructure hubs that might otherwise go dark in severe conditions.
Coordinate with state and federal partners to identify grant opportunities or cost-sharing mechanisms that could support implementation without pulling from local funds.
Developed by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, Starlink has been deployed in global disaster zones—from war-torn Ukraine to hurricane-hit areas in the U.S. It’s not a one-size-fits-all solution, but it’s worth exploring as a resilient, off-grid communication backup.
Why This Matters: Reliable broadband isn’t just about convenience—it’s about safety. During a disaster, maintaining communication can mean the difference between chaos and coordination. My plan explores how technologies like Starlink can help Monticello stay connected when it matters most.
Funding Sources & Financial Strategy
Monticello will aggressively pursue federal and state grant programs to finance broadband expansion, including:
FCC’s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) – A $20 billion federal program supporting broadband in rural areas across the country.
USDA ReConnect Program – Offers grants and loans specifically aimed at underserved and unserved communities—exactly where Monticello stands today.
NTIA Broadband Infrastructure Grants – Federal dollars designed to close digital gaps in towns like ours, where infrastructure is long overdue.
Mississippi Broadband Expansion and Accessibility (BEAM) Fund – State matching funds that can help us stretch every federal dollar even further.
Public-Private Partnerships – Bring in private-sector investment by collaborating with trusted broadband providers and infrastructure firms willing to put real skin in the game.
Require a public audit of past broadband investments to ensure previously allocated funds—especially those tied to current USDA grants—were spent responsibly and in the public’s best interest.
Provide cost estimates for broadband expansion, including projected fiber deployment costs, expected grant coverage, and funding gaps that may need local or private match contributions.
Prepare competitive grant applications with engineering assessments, digital equity maps, and community letters of support—making sure Monticello is grant-ready and not just grant-hopeful.
Use town-owned resources (where appropriate) as in-kind contributions—like rights-of-way access or public facilities—to strengthen our funding match without raising taxes.
Why This Matters: Access to high-speed internet is a necessary investment in Monticello’s future. A smart, layered funding strategy ensures our broadband expansion stays financially sustainable, transparent, and built to last—without passing the buck to future taxpayers.
The Make Monticello Strong Again! Broadband Access & Reliability Plan isn’t just a proposal—it’s a commitment. A commitment to make sure every resident and business in Monticello has access to affordable, high-speed, and reliable internet.
My plan guarantees:
Broadband providers are held accountable—no more silent delays or broken agreements. If they make a promise to Monticello, they’ll be expected to keep it.
Families, businesses, and students have the high-speed connection they need to work, learn, grow, and stay ahead in a digital world.
Grant funding and local investments are used transparently, with real oversight and public input—so every dollar works harder for the people who live here.
Monticello remains competitive in the modern economy, attracting remote workers, empowering small businesses, and expanding access to education and healthcare.
Monticello cannot afford to be left behind. My plan lays out clear, achievable goals to bring high-speed internet to every household and business in the community—with accountability, transparency, and a focus on results.
This is about delivering real results—not more broken promises.
Now, let's get to work on broadband—and Make Monticello Strong Again!
