Avoyelles State Representative Darryl Deshotel is asking the State Department of Education to use part of the more than one billion it is receiving in CARES Federal Funding to assist areas of the state that lack broadband access, which will help students with virtual education.
“We take that money and invest it in broadband infrastructure. At this point we’re not asking K-12 to solve our digital divide that we have in Central Louisiana, what we’re asking them to do is be a partner,” said Deshotel.
Deshotel said the CARES funding is designated to be used for COVID-related expenses and students need internet access as soon as possible.
“The thought process is that if the federal government, state, and private industry all partner together we can solve the digital divide now, we’re not going to wait for the future,” said Deshotel.
Deshotel said the federal government has given the state $300 million in vouchers for students to buy broadband access, however…
“There’s no internet access to be bought they can’t use these vouchers. So at the end of the day, we have an obligation to educate every kid in our state. We have 200,000 kids that are unable to do distance learning or remote learning because they have no infrastructure,” said Deshotel.
Deshotel said the federal government has designated $349 million for broadband infrastructure in the state, but said it’s going to take another $400 to $500-million to close to the digital divide.
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