Jackson, C Spire ratchet up signup campaign

Several hundred Jackson residents have made refundable $10 deposits and provided credit card information to register for C Spire’s broadband fiber-based Internet access.

City, business and company officials announced Thursday that they were kicking up the pre-registration with a grassroots outreach and citizen advocacy campaign, featuring billboards, radio and print advertising, direct mail, building and bus wraps, street teams and sponsorship of high-profile events.

Jackson is the 10th and largest city in Mississippi to offer the 1 Gbps (gigabit per second) Fiber to the Home broadband Internet access. The others are Batesville, Clinton, Corinth, Hattiesburg, Horn Lake, McComb, Quitman, Ridgeland and Starkville.

Jackson Mayor Tony Yarber said C Spire and city officials plan to partner with schools, community groups, churches and homeowner associations to help accelerate signups.

“Gigabit infrastructure will address so many needs in our city from education and health care to business expansion while improving home values,” he said.

The pattern has been to divide neighborhoods into predetermined sections. Instead, C Spire is allowing residents to determine whether and how quickly their areas qualify for construction through pre-registration. Hu Meena, president and CEO for the Ridgeland-based company, said “we felt this approach was the best way to help ensure that we get gigabit speeds to people faster.”

TO SIGN UP

Online pre-registration is at www.cspire.com/jackson