The Attala County Connectivity Task Force met for the first time on Tuesday, Aug. 21, at the Attala County Courthouse.
At the meeting, approximately 39 residents received instruction from Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley about how to collect data using their cellular phones that will be used to prove Federal Communications Commission coverage maps are wrong.
If Mississippi is to remain eligible for $100 million worth of federal funding allocated for the construction of rural cell phone towers, FCC mobile-coverage maps must be shown to be incorrect.
The following vital points were discussed at the meeting:
• The FCC has extended the deadline for data collection to Nov. 27;
• The task force is still seeking help—residents may join at any time;
• To verify information and recieve instruction, participants should email taskforce@psc.state.ms.us;
• The FCC speed test app may be found by searching “FCC Speed Test” using Google Play or the Apple App Store;
• Participants are encouraged to run tests often and repeatedly, especially in areas known to have weak or zero reception;
• When conducting speed tests, it is imperative to turn off the WiFi of that device and to remain stationary;
• Participants are encouraged to recruit the help of others.
Presley said that he and a five-person staff will be traveling throughout Mississippi counties and conducting their own tests using the service of five different providers. The commissioner said that he “doubts” the validity of Verizon’s reporting of coverage capabilities, and that AT&T is “too big to fail and too big to care.”
The task force was also briefed on the separate, but related issue of rural internet service. Presley said that plans to ask the state legislature to modify the 1942 code that prohibits electric power associations from supplying internet service remain in place.
The task force is a part of both efforts, but Presley stressed the importance of members focusing on collecting speed-test data, for now.
For those interested in becoming members of The Attala County Connectivity Task Force, call 1-800-637-7722, or email taskforce@psc.state.ms.us.
