A regional initiative to expand high-quality internet access in rural, often underserved, communities hit the ground running last week with its first deployment in Satartia.
The multi-phase rural broadband project was met with enthusiasm during a groundbreaking ceremony at the Satartia Gin last Monday. Aristotle Unified Communications (AUC), representatives were proud to announce a strategic partnership with the design and construction firm, EPC, to deploy high-speed fiber internet in underserved rural communities. The rural village of Satartia was its first stop in the recent partnership.
The collaboration brings together Aristotle’s deep expertise in broadband service and EPC’s infrastructure capabilities to deliver high-speed internet access to some of the most underserved areas in Mississippi and Arkansas. Together, the companies are investing in communities where connectivity is about access, opportunity, and equity.
“Since its inception, Aristotle has been committed to ensuring broadband parity for historically overlooked rural communities like Satartia,” said Elizabeth Bowles, CEO of Aristotle Unified Communications. “We are pleased to have found a construction partner that shares this vision and look forward to offering gigabit fiber to Satartia and other underserved communities in the Arkansas and Mississippi Delta.”
“The significance of this moment cannot be understated,” added Caleb Etheridge, CEO of EPC. “The opportunities that this connectivity brings are life-changing and economically transformative. The benefits of this broadband build will be felt almost immediately and will change the future of the communities we serve for generations to come. I’m honored that Aristotle chose EPC to help bring this revolutionary vision to life.”
Satartia Mayor Michelle Douglas said that broadband access would not only be beneficial to the area residents, but the access could also assist with attracting businesses and other economic developments within the community.
“Access to the internet means that we are bringing the village into the 21st century,” Douglas said. “This will help the current residents to connect to the world with the ability to enjoy telehealth visits, search the internet, and stream favorite shows. This will also make the village competitive in having young families with children move in, as well as opening up for new businesses in the area. Our children will no longer not be able to complete a homework assignment because of no internet.”
In 2022, the Federal Communications Commission announced that AUC was authorized to receive funds in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction, enabling deployment of broadband into historically unserved rural areas by 2027. The Satartia project marks the beginning of a larger AUC/EPC initiative to expand high-quality internet access in rural Mississippi, Arkansas and Illinois.
The project has already begun and is anticipated to be completed by this summer. And Bowles added that the underground service will be secure and protected, including from flooding, adding that the service is quite affordable with no need for equipment purchases. The equipment is included with the services, which run about $40 a month, with lower economic costs available.
“We are starting in Satartia, but we are not stopping here,” Bowles said. “We are actually going to serve the vast majority of Yazoo County.”
The village of Satartia, with a population of about 56 residents, has been waiting for such broadband services for years, Douglas added.
“We have waited on this for years,” Douglas said. “This is just a blessing for our residents. We are excited because I think this will bring new residents into our town to increase our population and keep our town growing. This will help to bring in new businesses. We have been limited with our business endeavors because of the lack of internet. It is not a fast process, but it is worth waiting on.”
