Louisiana is trying to get every home reliable internet. Here are some of the obstacles.

Louisiana is currently in the midst of a five-year campaign, with a budget of over a billion dollars, to ensure that every home in the state has access to reliable, high-speed internet. However, some state lawmakers have raised concerns about certain companies obstructing the progress of this initiative.

Veneeth Iyengar, the executive director of ConnectLA, Louisiana’s broadband office, acknowledges that there are significant gaps in mobility and coverage throughout the state.

In June 2022, Louisiana was awarded $1.36 billion by the federal government to address these gaps in broadband access. This funding comes with a deadline, requiring the state to commit and spend the money within a five-year timeframe.

As part of the effort to increase broadband infrastructure spending, Louisiana received $177 million from the federal American Rescue Plan Act in 2021. The state established the Granting Underserved Municipalities Opportunities Act (GUMBO), which allows companies to bid on broadband projects.

However, some providers have questioned whether certain areas are truly unserved, leading to delays in the process. Representative Daryl Deshotel, the author of the GUMBO grant act, believes that these companies are intentionally obstructing the progress of the initiative.

Providers of all sizes, from large corporations to local businesses, have lodged protests against the expansion projects. Representative Jeremy LaCombe, who represents rural areas targeted by the program, has expressed frustration with companies objecting to projects that would bring fiber internet to thousands of homes.

A 2022 survey conducted by LSU found that approximately 75% of Louisianans have broadband access in their homes. However, the remaining 25% without coverage still face significant challenges.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of internet access for work, school, and telehealth. Governor John Bel Edwards emphasized the need to address the lack of access, particularly for rural families who may not even have the option to drive to a location with internet access.

A New Strategy

To prevent further delays caused by company protests, Louisiana has implemented GUMBO 2.0 as part of the new $1.36 billion investment. The state has introduced a 90-day challenge process before each grant round, allowing internet service providers to challenge specific locations. Additionally, the federal government has created a more accurate map to determine areas in need of broadband access.

Challenges to the map will be addressed on an address level by a third party.

Representative Deshotel believes that these new processes will prevent future protests from providers.

Compared to other regions in the country, central and north Louisiana have significant areas where up to 40% of the population lacks internet access. According to BroadbandNow, Louisiana ranks 46th in the U.S. in terms of internet coverage, speed, and availability.

Historically, internet providers have been less inclined to invest in less-populated areas. However, Representative Deshotel emphasizes that internet access is crucial for economic development across Louisiana. He believes that this is a unique opportunity for the state to ensure universal coverage and that it is essential for the Legislature to administer these programs effectively.

Once broadband is available in a community, the government is working to increase affordability. The Affordable Connectivity Program provides eligible households with a benefit of up to $30 a month to reduce the cost of broadband service. However, there is still a need to enroll more eligible households in the program.

The state of Louisiana aims to achieve universal coverage and ensure that everyone who needs internet service will eventually have access.