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Increasing Broadband Access For Rural Louisiana Parishes

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MILLIONS FOR RURAL BROADBAND: Louisiana Government officials, state lawmakers and education leaders joined Governor John Bel Edwards in Lake Providence, Louisiana yesterday as he made a special announcement regarding a $130 million dollar investment from the American Rescue Plan to bring more affordable and accessible broadband internet service to underserved rural areas like East Carroll Parish. “It all started as the result of conversations that began in late 2019,” Edwards explained. “If we wanted to improve the overall competitiveness of our state, we had to make intentional efforts toward addressing the digital divide.”

By executive order the Edwards administration created the  Broadband  for Everyone  Louisiana  commission in August 2019 to gather data on broadband service throughout the state and to eliminate the digital divide by 2029. This move led to the development of the office of Broadband Development and Connectivity known as Connect LA in 2020.

Governor John Bel Edwards announced $130 million in American Rescue Plan funds to begin phase one of bringing broadband to rural parishes in Louisiana.
Credit: East Carroll Parish Library
Governor John Bel Edwards announced $130 million in American Rescue Plan funds to begin phase one of bringing broadband to rural parishes in Louisiana.

The total investment from the American Rescue Plan for broadband development in Louisiana is $176 million, out of which yesterday’s announcement of $130 million is being used for this first phase to bring more affordable and accessible internet to more than 66,000 households and small businesses through Internet Service Providers in 50 parishes. Also announced yesterday: five digital literacy and inclusion pilot sites will be embedded in rural and urban library branches.

Chuck Smith brings more than 30 years' broadcast and media experience to Red River Radio. He began his career as a radio news reporter and transitioned to television journalism and newsmagazine production. Chuck studied mass communications at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia and motion picture / television production at the University of California at Los Angeles. He has also taught writing for television at York Technical College in Rock Hill, South Carolina and video / film production at Centenary College of Louisiana, Shreveport.