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Hopes for widespread fiber internet access in rural Louisiana have been dimmed following a recent federal policy change. The state, initially slated to receive $1.3 billion for broadband expansion through the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program, now faces significant delays and a potential reversal of its fiber-first initiative.
GUMBO 2.0 Program Stalled
Louisiana was poised to be the first state to distribute BEAD funds through its GUMBO 2.0 program. This ambitious project aimed to connect the entire state with high-speed fiber internet, particularly benefiting underserved rural communities.
Federal Approval Revoked
However, revised guidance from U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has effectively stripped the federal approval, pushing Louisiana’s broadband expansion plans back considerably. The policy shift deviates from the Biden administration’s original fiber-centric approach.
Cajun Broadband, a local company that started as a way to provide wireless internet to a few neighbors in Broussard and later received GUMBO 1.0 grants, exemplifies the local efforts impacted by this policy change.
Camden Doherty reported this story for The Current.
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