$342 million to expand broadband in rural areas of Louisiana

Louisiana Congressman Mike Johnson, 4th Congressional District

To close the digital divide in rural areas of the state, Congressman Mike Johnson says the FCC is dedicating $342 million over the next decade to bring broadband internet to almost 176-thousand Louisianans. Johnson said the FCC’s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund will allow existing telecommunications companies to expand their access.

“These broadband projects that are funded under these federal dollars will be completed within six years, that’s a requirement. But there are incentives available to companies to complete the work faster and provide better than advertised levels of service,” said Johnson.

Johnson said some view bringing broadband access to rural areas as the equivalent of providing electricity and telephone service in the 1800 and 1900s.

“And ultimately this announcement ensures that rural communities will have the opportunity to compete with other areas in the 21^st century,” said Johnson.

Johnson said the pandemic has only highlighted our dependence on the internet and the incentives being provided to telecommunications providers to increase broadband will allow rural areas to experience economic growth. He said this is long overdue.

“So, this is the largest effort thus far to provide rural broadband access to Americans and enclose this digital divide that has been haunting us for way too long,” said Johnson.