Louisiana has received a substantial $1.8 billion from federally funded broadband expansion programs, including the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) and Granting Underserved Municipalities Broadband Opportunities (GUMBO). The Acadiana Advocate reported these funds are earmarked to serve small, rural, and underserved communities, some of which are poorer parishes. According to a new audit, the expansion progress has been “underwhelming.”
Only 85 percent of Louisiana residents have access to high-speed internet, compared to 90 percent nationally. Fewer than 60 percent of households with annual incomes under $20,000 have access.
According to FCC rules, 40 percent of RDOF-funded projects, overseen by The Louisiana Public Service Commission (LPSC), need to be wrapped up by the end of the year, with the remainder due for completion at the end of 2025. Only 10 percent of the 146,203 RDOF projects have been completed, with three out of 10 providers still only in the planning phase, reported The Acadiana Advocate.
The GUMBO project, which is not held to the same FCC deadlines, is making significant strides. As of March, 18.4 percent of the program’s 66,351 locations have been set up. According to the director of ConnectLA, which oversees GUMBO/BEAD funds, projects are expected to be completed by the end of the year, benefiting 43,000 homes and 2,500 small businesses statewide.
Although the GUMBO projects are on track, auditors warn that ConnectLA may need more staff to implement GUMBO 2.0. Funding for the project’s second phase, which has a larger scale than 1.0, is slated for release at the end of 2024, with anticipated project completion by the end of 2028.
Auditors found additional red flags, including the possibility that RDOF-funded providers might overextend and default, leaving gaps in internet coverage. If companies default, rural communities will likely suffer, and federally funded RDOF sites cannot apply for GUMBO 2.0 funds. LPSC informed auditors it is working to create measures to ensure that RDOF-funded providers file all documents and that consistent updates are provided.
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