MS HB1029

Creates the Office of Broadband Expansion and Accessibility of Mississippi (BEAM) within the Department of Finance and Administration to administer broadband infrastructure grants in unserved and underserved areas.

Establishes the BEAM Fund to receive state appropriations, federal grants (including from the American Rescue Plan Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act), and other donations for broadband deployment.

Requires applicants to be eligible broadband service providers with 3 years of service to 100+ Mississippi locations and mandates they submit detailed applications including project location shapefiles, budget, community support, and broadband speed specifications (minimum 100 Mbps downstream/20 Mbps upstream).

Directs BEAM to establish competitive scoring criteria, make preliminary determinations published for public comment within 30 days, accept and investigate objections for 30 days, then make final awards while preventing funding for areas already served or under construction.

Protects broadband provider proprietary and financial information from public disclosure; requires BEAM to notify the Lieutenant Governor, House Speaker, and Legislative Budget Office before distributing funds; and mandates annual reporting to the Legislature by December 15.