Partnership will bring high-speed internet to Mansfield, Louisiana

The city of Mansfield (LA) is getting ready to build its own $5 million fiber-based broadband network that will give every household and business in the city access to high-speed internet. It will be the first true public-private partnership broadband network in the state, according to Louisiana Connected, the Black-owned tech company working with the city to build the fiberoptic system. The Mansfield City Council voted unanimously to approve the partnership in a deal that both the outgoing and incoming mayors say will address the lack of access to broadband internet highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic. “The pandemic really brought to light many of the shortcomings we face in our daily lives and reliable Internet was one of them,” said outgoing Mayor John Mayweather. “Hopefully, what we are attempting to do now with this broadband project will help to resolve this issue.” The agreement paving the way for fiberoptic broadband internet access in Mansfield came on the heels of a state-required feasibility study to evaluate neighborhoods with broadband deficits. The City of Mansfield and its partners expect to break ground by early fall 2022.