Springhill small business owner on broadband in rural Louisiana
Chillon Caraway wears many hats. She is the brand manager of the Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency, producer of The Gifted Life podcast, founder and CEO of CC Brand Studio and mother to two teenage boys.
ConnectLA's Sydney McGovern features small business owner and rural Louisianian, Chillon Caraway.
What is the main barrier to broadband access in Louisiana?
LSU Manship School News Service; Lafayette Daily Advertiser
Providing greater access to high-speed internet services in rural and lower-income urban areas has been a priority of federal and state officials to support education and economic development, and the survey’s findings help delineate the extent of the problem.
PSC votes to allow rural co-op to provide broadband but a LSU survey shows cost is a factor in receiving high-speed internet
Louisiana Radio Network
Commissioner Foster Campbell said Northeast Louisiana Power Co-Op will supply broadband for members in seven northeast parishes.
Internet is coming to North Louisiana: Winnsboro rural electric co-op to offer broadband
Monroe News-Star
Residents of rural areas of northeast Louisiana are one step closer to getting broadband internet service.
The Louisiana Public Service Commission gave the Northeast Louisiana Power Cooperative of Winnsboro final approval to enter the internet business on Wednesday.
LPSC approved first co-op to offer internet service
KPVI News 6
The first Louisiana rural electric cooperative to enter the internet business will begin construction next month on a broadband service for its 11,500 members, thanks to approval Wednesday by the Louisiana Public Service Commission.
LSU Survey: Main barrier to broadband internet is cost
LSU Manship School News Service; BR Business Report
In the fifth installment of the 2022 Louisiana Survey, released Tuesday, residents say the most common barrier to having broadband internet is the cost of the service.
2022 Louisiana Survey Shows Cost of Service Primary Reason More Lack Broadband at Home
Bossier Press-Tribune
Many of those without broadband said they do not have this service because it is not available in their area (42 percent), but the most commonly named barrier to having broadband at home is the cost of the service (64 percent).
2022 Louisiana Survey Shows Cost of Service Primary Reason More Lack Broadband at Home
LSU Manship School of Mass Communication
Research from the Public Policy Research Lab (PPRL) at LSU Manship School of Mass Communication’s Reilly Center for Media & Public Affairs shows three quarters of Louisiana adults have high-speed internet service in their home. Those without broadband cite availability and cost of service as the reasons why they do not.
NELA power companies to offer broadband internet
KALB
Some Northeast Louisiana power companies will soon offer broadband internet service to customers. Louisiana’s first rural broadband service offered by an electric cooperative was approved today by the Louisiana Public Service Commission.
Cost chief barrier to internet access in Louisiana, survey finds
Louisiana Illuminator
Louisiana residents say the most common barrier to having broadband internet access at home is the cost of the service, according to a survey. More than half of respondents said they don’t need it because they have smartphones.
Survey shows La. residents’ opinions on internet access
BRProud
In March, Governor John Bel Edwards announced that Louisiana was going to receive nearly $30 million from the U.S. Department of Commerce for broadband expansion in some parishes.
Cox and ConnectLA have said they’re participating in the Affordable Connectivity Program, which helps provide homes with internet access needed for work, school, healthcare, and more at an affordable rate.
Shreveport technology department takes a unique approach to solving the urban digital divide
Think about the saying “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” The applications for this adage are limitless, and for Keith Hanson, Shreveport’s chief technology officer, his lemons were unreliable broadband usage maps. And his lemonade? Garbage trucks.
ConnectLA's Sydney McGovern highlights Shreveport's unique way of eliminating the digital divide.
Small-town mayor ushers in big-time progress for broadband in Grosse Tete
Sydney McGovern from ConnectLA highlights Grosse Tete Mayor Michael Chauffe and his efforts to deliver much needed broadband to his village.
Three factors that are key to improving health equity at MedCity INVEST
MedCity News
ConnectLA's Executive Director, Veneeth Iyengar, will be the moderator for a health equity panel in Chicago on March 30, at 10 a.m. CT. "We cannot improve what we cannot measure objectively. Information doesn’t become insight unless it is shared broadly. Deep problems cannot be solved with a go-it-alone attitude. Solving health inequity requires all of the above." Click to learn more.
Louisiana Ranks Third in Nation for Emergency Broadband Benefit Enrollment Rate
Louisiana ranks third in the nation for EBB adoption, according to BroadbandNow research. More than 215,000 eligible households are receiving this benefit, representing hundreds of thousands of Louisianians with better, more affordable access to broadband.
Reflecting on 2021
Can you imagine life without internet? I recently came across an article published in 2000, citing a report that the internet is a "passing fad." Of course, this seems ridiculous to us now. Especially with the pandemic, we have learned just how vital the internet is to our everyday lives, from paying bills to connecting with loved ones.
Louisiana farmer leverages broadband to maintain a more efficient and competitive farming business
Sydney McGovern from ConnectLA highlights the benefits broadband brings to Hardwick Planting Company in Tensas Parish in ConnectLA's second human impact story.
Message from the executive director
To be one of only three states invited to speak at the National Governors Association Infrastructure Summit means a great deal to us as ConnectLA, and it should mean a great deal to all Louisianians as well. Click to read about Veneeth Iyengar's time at the NGA Infrastructure Summit.
Fall 2021 - BESE/Board of Regents Joint Meeting
Board of Elementary and Secondary Education of Louisiana & LA Board of Regents
Dec. 15, 2021
9 a.m. - 10 a.m.
Claiborne Building
View a video message from Executive Director Veneeth Iyengar
As our team has traveled through the state, we have heard from some folks who fear that they will miss out on broadband funding if they don't apply to or get selected for the first round of GUMBO. Do not fear!
Louisiana school systems work to eliminate the digital divide: ‘It's breaking those barriers down’
Sydney McGovern from ConnectLA highlights schools' struggles from the beginning of the pandemic to now in ConnectLA's latest human impact story.
Fall 2021-National Governors Association Infrastructure Summit
Dec. 2
9:45 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Building Out State Broadband Networks and Programs
Annapolis, Maryland
Message from the executive director
ConnectLA recognizes the importance of durable infrastructure as we anticipate future storms, which is why we attended the National Academy of Sciences' Investing in Resilient Infrastructure Workshop held in Washington, D.C.
Fall 2021-National Academy of Sciences workshop
Nov. 15
9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Keck Center, Washington, D.C.
Nov. 16
9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Keck Center, Washington, D.C.
November Newsletter
The first GUMBO application period is now live and continues through Dec. 31. The enthusiasm and support we received was tremendous. There is a common notion that government is ineffective or doesn't move fast enough; our office works to challenge this notion every day.
Fall 2021 - Southwest Louisiana Meetings
Dequincy (Calcasieu)
10:00-11:00
City Hall
Oberlin (Allen, Jefferson Davis)
1:00 – 2:00
Allen Parish Police Jury
Fall 2021 - Avoyelles Parish Meetings
Marksville (Avoyelles, Evangeline, Pointe Coupee)
12:00 – 1:00
Paragon Casino
Fall 2021 - Central Louisiana Meetings
Leesville (Vernon)
8:30 – 9:30
Vernon Parish School Board
Many (Sabine)
10:30 – 12:00
CDC Conference Center
DeRidder (Beauregard)
2:15 – 3:15
200 South Jefferson St.
Fall 2021 - Northeast Louisiana Meetings
Lake Providence Louisiana
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Vidalia, Louisiana
City Hall
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
East Carroll Parish Broadband Stakeholder Meeting
9:30 AM
Harris Hall
102 Ingram Street
Lake Providence, Louisiana
Fall 2021 - Acadiana Meetings
Abbeville (Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin and Vermilion parishes)
10:00 am – 11:00 am
LSU Ag Center
October Newsletter
November will mark a pivotal point in the journey to eliminating the digital divide with the launch of our statewide broadband grant program known as GUMBO. As they say, success has many fathers. Together, all of you have contributed to our progress thus far, and we thank you!
View a message from Gov. John Bel Edwards of Louisiana
ConnectLA
In support of National Digital Inclusion Week, we are thrilled to share this message from Gov. Edwards. Addressing issues surrounding access, affordability and digital literacy will ensure that we eliminate the digital divide by 2029.
September Newsletter
Check in on ConnectLA’s progress. Read more about our reaction to Hurricane Ida, changes to the GUMBO application period and our digital navigators roundtable.
Meet the team
Meet the people behind the effort to eliminate the digital divide by 2029.
August Newsletter
Read about ConnectLA’s progress, including the release of the GUMBO grant process, our travels throughout the state and the resources we provide to local governments.
GUMBO Grant Rules
ConnectLA announces the Emergency Rule for applying to the Granting Unserved Municipalities Broadband Opportunities grant program.
Broadband Toolkit release
Learn more about ConnectLA’s mission and the work we’ve done in our first 100 days.