Louisiana aims to bridge digital divide by 2029

Louisiana’s goal is to have broadband service in all unserved areas of the state by 2029. To help bridge the digital divide, applications for Granting Unserved Municipalities Broadband Opportunities (GUMBO) grants are being accepted until December 31. That program, run by the Louisiana Office of Broadband Development and Connectivity (ConnectLA), is designed to help private providers bring more accessible and affordable broadband service to areas that have download speeds of less than 25 Mbps and upload speeds lower than 3 Mbps. “Our program is designed to address the access issue that exists in Louisiana,” said Veneeth Iyengar, executive director of ConnectLA. Iyengar said Internet service providers should work with local municipalities to submit their grant applications. In addition to broadband access and affordability, ConnectLA serves as a resource to local governments throughout Louisiana to help address issues including digital literacy.