Louisiana's $1.355 Billion Broadband Bet

Louisiana is about to see the largest single investment in internet infrastructure in the state’s history. Between the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program and the state’s own GUMBO grants, more than $1.355 billion is flowing into the effort to connect every home, business, and community anchor institution in the state.

That figure isn’t hypothetical. The money has been allocated, providers have been selected, and construction timelines are taking shape. Here’s what it means for the 128,046 locations that the FCC currently classifies as unserved.

What BEAD Is and Why Louisiana Moved Early

BEAD is the centerpiece of the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’s broadband provisions. The program directs $42.45 billion to states and territories to build high-speed internet infrastructure, with priority given to unserved locations (those lacking 25/3 Mbps service) and underserved locations (below 100/20 Mbps).

Louisiana was among the first states to receive NTIA approval for its Initial Proposal. The Office of Broadband Development and Connectivity (ConnectLA) submitted a plan that prioritized fiber-to-the-premises wherever economically feasible, a decision that aligns with NTIA’s preference for future-proof technology.

How the Money Breaks Down

The $1.355 billion total comes from two major programs:

• BEAD (Federal): Approximately $1.09 billion allocated by NTIA, targeting unserved and underserved locations statewide
• GUMBO (State): Two rounds of the Granting Unserved Municipalities Broadband Opportunities program totaling roughly $106 million, funded by state and federal ARPA dollars

The GUMBO program served as a proving ground. Its first round, launched in 2022, awarded grants to providers like LUS Fiber, Sparklight, and Vexus Fiber to build out service in specific underserved areas. GUMBO Round 2 expanded the scope. Together, these grants have already brought fiber construction to parishes that had been waiting for decades.

Which Parishes Get the Most Investment

BEAD funding follows the unserved locations. That means rural parishes with the largest gaps in coverage receive the most money, not the parishes with the largest populations.

Parishes like Grant Parish, which holds the lowest Connect Score in the state at 51, are primary targets. With only 11.3% fiber availability, the gap between current infrastructure and the BEAD standard is enormous. Claiborne Parish tells a different story: 97.9% of locations are technically “served,” but nearly all of that coverage runs on copper and cable. BEAD funds will help replace aging infrastructure with fiber.

In the northern part of the state, Caddo Parish (home to Shreveport) is set to receive significant BEAD investment. Despite being an urban parish, pockets of the Caddo area remain unserved, particularly in outlying communities south and west of the city center.

128,046 Unserved Locations

That’s the number at the heart of this program. Based on the FCC’s Broadband Data Collection (BDC) as of June 2024, Louisiana has 128,046 locations that lack access to 25/3 Mbps service, the federal floor for “broadband.”

Many of these locations are clustered in the northern and central regions of the state, in parishes with low population density and difficult terrain. But unserved pockets also exist in suburban and peri-urban areas where providers simply haven’t found it profitable to build without subsidy.

BEAD requires that all funded projects deliver at least 100/20 Mbps service, with a strong preference for symmetrical gigabit fiber. That means the 128,046 locations won’t just get “some internet,” they’ll get fiber-grade connectivity in most cases.

Timeline: When Will Residents See Fiber Crews?

The BEAD program operates on a phased timeline:

• 2024–2025: Challenge process, subgrantee selection, and final proposal approval
• 2025–2026: Construction begins in early-approved areas, GUMBO projects continue to come online
• 2026–2028: Peak construction period, with the majority of BEAD-funded fiber builds underway
• 2028–2029: Final milestones, with all funded locations expected to have service available

Some areas are already seeing results. GUMBO Round 1 projects in parishes like St. Landry and Natchitoches have active fiber construction. BEAD-funded builds will layer on top of these efforts starting in late 2025 and accelerating through 2027.

What This Means for You

If you live in one of Louisiana’s 64 parishes, this investment will affect your options. For unserved residents, it means fiber is coming. For those already served, increased competition tends to drive down prices and improve service quality across the board.

We track every parish’s broadband data, from coverage percentages to provider counts to Connect Scores. Browse parish profiles to see where your parish stands, or visit GetConnectedLA to check what’s available at your address today.