Louisiana To Get Billions In Aid To Expand Rural High Speed Internet

Louisiana residents in certain rural areas will be getting high-speed internet as the White House approves $1.3 Billion to expand reliable and affordable internet in the Bayou State.

It's all part of a $42 Billion investment from the federal government to help speed up the process of getting rural areas across the country access to high-speed internet. According to studies, an estimated 25% of Louisiana households don't have access to reliable and affordable internet.

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Louisiana Rep. Troy Carter told WGNO News:

It’s not a luxury. It’s a necessity. Some places, even if they could afford it, there was just no fiber, no cable, no infrastructure, no network.

The $1.3 Billion is meant to match private company investments that are willing to offer internet services in underserved rural communities across Louisiana. However, there are stipulations from the White House that Louisiana will only have 4-5 years to get the program up and running.

Louisiana has received one of the biggest portions from the federal government $42 Billion Rural High-Speed Internet program compared to other states.

Gov. John Bel Edwards had this to say in a press release:

I want to thank President Biden, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, and the NTIA for recognizing and supporting our important mission of making broadband available to all Louisianans, and I want to thank Senator Bill Cassidy and Congressman Troy Carter for voting for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that made this investment possible. This broadband expansion will accelerate the growth of Louisiana’s economy while increasing access to education and health care. We will work urgently to deploy these funds and ensure that 100 percent of Louisiana businesses and residences receive access to high-speed, affordable, and reliable internet by 2029.