Baton Rouge, LA– Governor Jeff Landry announced that Louisiana is the first state in the nation to secure federal approval for its plan to deploy $1.355 billion in Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) funding through the state’s GUMBO 2.0 program. 
“Louisiana is pioneering the broadband revolution across America as we set the national standard for rural broadband investment,” said Governor Jeff Landry. “This is a generational investment that will create thousands of jobs, drive billions in economic growth, and transform Louisiana communities in all 64 parishes. I want to thank the Louisiana Office of Broadband Development and Connectivity for their outstanding work in ensuring that Louisianians, both in rural and urban communities, can experience the best of what Louisiana has to offer.”
“Federal approval of our plan to expand broadband across Louisiana marks a turning point for our state as we prepare to swiftly move from planning to construction and implementation in connecting underserved communities with high-speed internet,” said ConnectLA Executive Director Veneeth Iyengar. “Under Governor Landry’s leadership, this is a collaborative effort with providers and local leaders to transform communities across our state and ensure every resident and business has access to the same digital opportunities. – based on conversations with internet service providers, we fully expect to see shovels in the ground in the next 100 days.”
Background:
GUMBO 2.0, administered by ConnectLA, will connect approximately 140,000 locations across the state to high-speed internet through funding awards to 20 internet service providers, with nearly 70% of the funds awarded to Louisiana companies. Altogether, these broadband investments will drive significant economic growth for the state, creating 8,000 to 10,000 new jobs and $2 to $3 billion in new revenue for Louisiana companies.
As a result of the state’s highly efficient award process, Louisiana is also distributing over $500 million in initiatives targeting education, workforce development, healthcare, agriculture, and economic development, ensuring broadband access delivers maximum impact for residents. More information about these programs will be released in the coming weeks.
SHARE