When festivalgoers arrived in downtown Bentonia, Mississippi, for the annual Blues Festival in June, they found more than music and barbecue — they found free public Wi-Fi. The service, launched just in time for the event, marked a major step forward for this small Yazoo County town and a visible sign of progress in its effort to close the digital divide.

The new Wi-Fi zone was made possible through a partnership between Little Rock, Arkansas-based Aristotle Unified Communications and former Mayor Clint Lancaster. But behind the scenes, the momentum that is set to bring better connectivity to Bentonia was sparked by the Broadband Team at Communities Unlimited (CU), which has been working over the past two years to connect some of the most disconnected rural communities in the Mississippi Delta.

CU began working with Bentonia in early 2024 as part of a USDA Broadband Technical Assistance (BTA) initiative focused on Delta communities. Their engagement started with a community broadband assessment and public meetings to better understand local needs. CU helped residents learn about their broadband options, digital literacy, and available funding — but perhaps most critically, CU facilitated the connection between Bentonia’s leadership and Aristotle’s team.

Taking over as mayor in June, Kim Martin has witnessed that progress firsthand. A city council member before becoming mayor, Martin said working with CU and Aristotle has been a positive experience, describing both groups as communicative, supportive, and hands-on throughout the process.

Aristotle recently deployed the public Wi-Fi system in downtown Bentonia, providing a much-needed access point for residents. The system has already made a noticeable difference for those in City Hall. For town staff, it has eliminated sluggish connections and access issues, making day-to-day operations much smoother.

“We can get online easily now — no problems,” Martin said.

“It’s what I would call the ‘Bentonia version of McDonald’s parking lot,’ so they have somewhere they can pull up and get the kids online for school and whatever else they need to do,” added Rick Hales, Director of Community Partnerships at Aristotle. “That is in place right now and serving the community.”

Though public usage is still building, Martin believes the long-term impact will be substantial — particularly for students who currently lack access to internet at home. “It’ll be great for them to get their work done,” she said. With the broader broadband project, the town is looking to reach roughly 300 in-town subscribers, with the potential for even more in surrounding rural areas. The service will be more affordable, offering residents a viable alternative in a town that has had limited options.

Aristotle has already begun deploying fixed wireless service with speeds up to 100/20 Mbps — sufficient for everyday use but far slower than fiber’s gigabit-level speeds — and plans to bring fiber to Bentonia once Mississippi’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program awards funding.

CU’s role was to be the squeaky wheel in this process — the organization that helped the town make noise, build its case, and get on the radar of Internet Service Providers (ISPs). By equipping local leaders with tools, data, and strategies, CU empowered Bentonia to take an active role in shaping its digital future.

As part of the groundwork, CU provided advanced Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping in May to support broadband construction. Using high-accuracy GPS equipment, CU’s GIS team is creating detailed maps of the town’s utility systems, including water infrastructure. They also added critical data layers — such as gas pipelines, flood zones, parcel and building data, and existing internet infrastructure.

This comprehensive approach not only enhanced the town’s utility management but also gave ISPs a clearer view of where broadband lines could be safely and efficiently installed. It positioned Bentonia as a more appealing candidate for broadband investment while strengthening its overall infrastructure planning. The project isn’t fully complete just yet. The GIS Team will return at some point to finalize a few key points and secure final approval for the town’s water / broadband maps.

Mayor Martin sees high-speed internet as a critical piece of the town’s future. With infrastructure in place, she believes Bentonia will be better positioned to attract new businesses and industries, giving the town a competitive advantage and a real opportunity to grow.

While there’s no firm timeline yet for widespread coverage, Martin said Aristotle continues to work on expanding public access across the community.

For Bentonia residents, broadband’s immediate impact is clear.

“Once they get that broadband in place, just the ability to have Wi-Fi calling in their homes is going to make a difference,” Hales said. “Not just being able to call grandma, but being able to call 9-1-1, too. It’s something those of us with reliable service take for granted, but in many rural areas, people simply can’t make that call.”

With one year left in CU’s two-year engagement, Bentonia is well-positioned for a connected future. For Hales, this kind of progress is exactly why Aristotle partners with organizations like CU.

Bentonia’s future is charging forward — high-speed internet is no longer a distant dream but an imminent leap into a new era of connection and opportunity.