A $21 million broadband expansion to bring high-speed, affordable, and reliable internet to 10,000 households and businesses in Avoyelles Parish is underway. Officials broke ground on the project last Thursday. ConnectLA Executive Director Veneeth Iyengar says this is the first phase toward eliminating the digital divide for thousands in Louisiana…
“This is the largest funded project which is going to impact nearly 10 thousand locations in Avoyelles Parish. Anyone that calls within those 10 thousand locations that call SwyftFiber for highspeed internet will be able to get it.”
The state will provide nearly $10 million in federal funds from the Department of the Treasury. The collective impact of the $176 million in federal funds plus the $1.4 billion will ensure that Louisianans in rural and low-income communities will have access to high-speed, affordable, and reliable internet. Iyengar says Avoyelles is only one of several rural parishes selected to receive broadband …
“It’s all based on areas designated by the Federal Communications Commission. They put together these national maps and based on the volume of those locations that are considered ‘served and unserved’, we were directing our dollars to those areas that create the most impact.”
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information Alan Davidson announced the impacts the $1.4 billion is going to have statewide. Iyengar says these funds will be used to expand access and affordability, help improves digital skills, and provide workforce training. He says officials have put funds to use and there are standards of accountability…
“So we’ve committed the dollars. They got eleven more months to build their entire network. There are checks and balances in terms of SwyftFiber’s ability to execute and making sure they do what they say they’ve done in terms of signing grants and agreements with our office.”
The project is set for completion in the summer of 2024.
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