BEAD INITIAL PROPOSAL, VOLUME 1
Established by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program allocated more than $42 billion nationally for the construction of broadband networks, the establishment of subsidies to offset the cost of internet service for qualifying households and the creation of training programs to equip users with a digital skillset. The BEAD program also provides grants to states for these purposes.
In collaboration with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, ConnectLA has developed a first volume of our proposal for how we plan to use these funds and address Louisiana’s digital divide. This volume outlines current efforts to deploy broadband, a breakdown of unserved and underserved locations and an overview of the process to challenge a provider’s service availability and performance.
We ask you, as a broadband stakeholder, to review this draft proposal with a critical eye and provide as much constructive feedback as you can. The public comment period will close on June 23, 2023, at which point we will use your suggestions to create an updated volume.
COMMENT ON THE DRAFT BEAD PROPOSAL
DIGITAL EQUITY PLAN
The National Digital Inclusion Alliance defines digital equity as “a condition in which all individuals and communities have the information technology capacity needed for full participation in our society, democracy and economy.”
In partnership with the Blanco Public Policy Center, ConnectLA has developed the following plan which outlines Louisiana’s first coordinated effort to assess the state’s digital divide and move the state toward digital equity. The plan focuses on more than just how we can provide faster internet. It lays out strategies for how to make internet affordable and accessible and how to equip residents with the skills needed to fully participate in today’s digital world.
We ask you, as a broadband stakeholder, to review this draft plan with a critical eye and provide as much constructive feedback as you can. The public comment period will close on July 7, 2023, at which point we will use your suggestions to create an updated plan.
READ THE DRAFT DIGITAL EQUITY PLAN
COMMENT ON THE DRAFT DIGITAL EQUITY PLAN