Appeal denied for $80 Million BTOP Grant

Despite pleas from state leaders, Louisiana won't regain an $80 million federal grant to expand broadband Internet connections, and the money instead will be returned to the federal treasury, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The department rescinded the grant last month, questioning whether Louisiana could accomplish its plan in the time allowed and whether changes made to the plans met the goals of the grant. "We have worked closely with the state throughout the last several months to rescue this project but have now concluded that we have to move on," said Commerce Department Assistant Secretary Lawrence Strickling. "The Louisiana project, as originally submitted, promised great benefits to unserved and underserved areas of the state. However, after the state determined it was unable to implement the original project plan and fell significantly behind schedule, it proposed major modifications to its original proposal without adequate technical and financial details and a viable schedule for completing the project," Strickling said.