Louisiana is on a mission to bring reliable internet access to every household in the state, according to this article from Nola.com. With a five-year campaign backed by a billion-dollar investment, the goal is clear: to ensure that high-speed internet is accessible to all. However, this ambitious endeavor hasn’t been without its challenges, as some companies have been putting up roadblocks along the way.

Veneeth Iyengar, the executive director of ConnectLA, the state’s broadband office, acknowledges that Louisiana faces significant gaps in internet mobility and coverage. To address this issue, the federal government awarded the state a substantial sum of $1.36 billion, granting Louisiana the eighth-largest allocation in the country. But this funding comes with a deadline—a five-year shot-clock. The state must commit to spending the money efficiently to make substantial progress.

In 2021, Louisiana received $177 million from the federal American Rescue Plan Act, aimed at increasing broadband infrastructure spending. To distribute these funds, the state introduced the Granting Underserved Municipalities Opportunities Act (GUMBO), inviting companies to bid on broadband projects. However, this process faced delays as some providers questioned whether certain areas were genuinely underserved. Rep. Daryl Deshotel, the author of the GUMBO grant act, expressed his frustration with companies trying to hold onto areas to block competitors from entering the market.

One company even appealed 50 projects across the state, grinding progress to a halt. Rep. Jeremy LaCombe, who represents rural areas benefiting from the GUMBO program, believes that certain companies objected in bad faith, hindering projects that could have brought fiber internet to thousands of homes.

A 2022 survey conducted by LSU revealed that about 75% of Louisianans have broadband access in their homes. However, that remaining 25% represents a critical segment of the population without reliable internet access. The importance of internet connectivity became evident during the COVID-19 pandemic when people relied heavily on the internet for work, education, and telehealth services.

While significant progress has been made in expanding broadband access, especially in urban areas, the lack of access remains a pressing issue for rural families. Gov. John Bel Edwards emphasized the problem, pointing out that it is unacceptable for children to have to go to places like McDonald’s to access the internet for their homework. For many families in remote areas, such options are simply not available.

With the recent $1.36 billion investment, Louisiana is introducing GUMBO 2.0, a revised strategy to prevent company holdups and expedite progress. The state will now have a 90-day challenge process before each grant round, allowing internet service providers to challenge locations marked for expansion. To support this initiative, the federal government has developed a more accurate map to identify underserved areas, ensuring a fair adjudication process for address-level challenges. Examining the updated map, it becomes evident that central and north Louisiana are still struggling with limited internet access, with up to 40% of the population lacking coverage. This puts Louisiana at a disadvantage compared to states in the Northeast and Midwest, as it ranks 46th in the U.S. in terms of internet coverage, speed, and availability according to BroadbandNow.

Recently, a groundbreaking ceremony celebrated GUMBO’s largest investment to date, a project that will bring cable internet to nearly 10,000 households and businesses in Avoyelles Parish. With a combination of federal grants and private investments, this project sets an example of what can be achieved with collaborative efforts.

In conclusion, the journey to bring reliable internet access to every home in Louisiana has had its share of obstacles. But with determined efforts, substantial investments, and revised strategies like GUMBO 2.0, the state is making remarkable progress. By addressing challenges, improving maps, and collaborating with internet service providers, Louisiana is moving closer to bridging the digital divide and ensuring equal opportunities for all its residents.

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