The Louisiana Public Service Commission made headway this week in an effort to help close the digital divide in North Louisiana. Northeast Louisiana Power Cooperative will be the first utility co-op to supply internet service to their customers, PSC Chair Lambert Boissiere said it’s historic.
“Which is allowed a rural co-op, a rural energy company in a very rural country part of the state to offer broadband where no broadband or internet existed,” said Boissiere.
Boissiere said this will help individuals who lacked broadband and also businesses that need access to remain competitive in Northeast Louisiana. He said federal infrastructure grants laid the groundwork for the private-public partnership.
Commissioner Foster Campbell said Northeast Louisiana Power Co-Op will supply broadband for members in seven northeast parishes.
“The price will be about $59 per month. It’s a great thing for rural people of Louisiana, this is the most rural part of Louisiana and the poorest,” said Campbell.
According to the 2022, Louisiana Survey about three-fourths of homes in the state have broadband internet access. LSU Public Policy Research Director Mike Henderson said of the remaining 25% who don’t, 40% say it’s not available and 60% say it’s too expensive.
“So, more people don’t have broadband because they don’t believe they can afford it than don’t have it because it’s just not available to them,” said Henderson.
And while the approval of the state’s first co-op to provide broadband access to rural northeast Louisiana is significant, Henderson said for areas of the state that have the service it’s a premium that many can’t afford.
“It’s not to say that broadband is sufficiently available everywhere, there is a noticeable share about 40% who says it’s simply not available there but the bigger concern for more people seems to be the cost,” said Henderson.
The Louisiana Survey polled 508 adults from February 21st to March 14th.
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