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The State of Broadband with ConnectLA
By Veneeth Iyengar C Executive Director
onnectLA, or the Louisiana Office of Broadband Development and Connectivity, has one goal:
eliminate the digital divide in the state by 2029. While this may seem like a daunting task, it is one area where Louisiana is actually leading the country in terms of policy setting.
Broadband allows Louisianians and businesses access to the most basic amenities needed in the 21st century. Internet access has become a critical piece of infrastructure, igniting economic growth and competitiveness. As internet expands, we recognize inequalities for those who do not have the access, tools and skills needed
to participate in the digital world. Eliminating the digital divide ensures that all Louisianians have access to these vital services.
The state has already awarded 18 internet service providers more than $130 million to connect more than 66,000 homes and businesses in 50 parishes. Infrastructure for these projects needs to be resilient to weather damage, something all too common in Louisiana. To do this, we are incentivizing providers to bury fiber-optic cables and build redundant systems to ensure fewer outages and improve emergency response measures.
The initial grants were funded by
the Capital Projects Fund from the American Rescue Plan. The next
round of projects will be funded by
the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, or Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
You may have heard that Louisiana was awarded roughly $1.4 billion from the IIJA to expand broadband networks to every home, business and community anchor institution in the state. To receive this funding, ConnectLA is required to submit an Initial Proposal, which details all locations that are eligible for funding, how the state will administer a grant round to providers and other programs the funding will
go to.
Something we are very proud of at ConnectLA is that we were the first
state to submit Volumes 1 and 2 of the Initial Proposal and the first state to receive approval of Vol. 1. The final step to be able to use IIJA funding is to receive approval of Vol. 2.
Vol. 2 addresses the state’s unique challenges with geography and workforce. It emphasizes the need for a robust workforce to build and maintain broadband infrastructure. Providing broadband access is not enough; it is crucial that we invest in the “future of work activities.”
That is all great news for the state, but how do these achievements translate into tangible results for Louisianians? While it may not be very visible right now, big improvements are coming. Once the administrative hoops are all jumped through, providers will be able to start building new infrastructure and getting people connected.
In October, ConnectLA launched a challenge process to determine which locations are eligible for funding through the IIJA. Local governments, internet service providers and non- profit organizations were able to view the most recent FCC service availability map and submit challenges based on whether a location is marked as served or unserved.
This will lead into the next step of the process: announcing and distributing grants to service providers. The goal is to launch a grant round between March and May of 2024. Project areas, the type of infrastructure to be used, project timelines and the state’s financial contribution will be determined for each project in this phase.
To address concerns with infrastructure projects causing damage to existing
utility lines, ConnectLA has attended Louisiana Gas Association conferences to understand how telecom workers can avoid conflicts entirely. Possible solutions include requiring 811 training for contractors, evaluating providers’ safety track records and requiring plans to prevent accidents in the grant application.
The issue of damaging existing
utility lines goes back to our plans regarding workforce development.
To help ensure a skilled workforce, ConnectLA has partnered with the Louisiana Community and Technical College System to promote the Certified Premises Cabling Technician and Certified Fiber Optic Technician programs. All technical and community colleges in the state offer these programs.
Not only will this ensure that trained Louisianians are working on these jobs, but it will also help decrease the amount of accidents that occur by effectively training telecom employees.
If there’s one message we hope to convey, it is that eliminating the
digital divide is about more than just expanding broadband networks so that people can stream movies. We have an opportunity to give Louisianians jobs, improve residents’ health, reduce the “brain drain,” stimulate our economy and put Louisiana on the map, all by giving high-speed internet to those who have been left without.
In this day in age, a broadband connection and the wherewithal to
use it are essential for our residents
to thrive. ConnectLA is dedicated to leveraging all stakeholders to work toward a better future for Louisianians.
2023, Issue 4
Louisiana 811
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