Louisiana signs BEAD grant agreement with SpaceX’s Starlink, continuing push for statewide broadband access
BATON ROUGE, La. (June 11, 2026) — Louisiana has signed a BEAD agreement with SpaceX’s Starlink to expand broadband access through the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program, marking another major step toward achieving universal access.
This agreement allows construction to begin on projects that will deliver access to 10,635 locations by the end of the summer. The project covers locations in over 50 parishes statewide, moving Louisiana closer to full coverage while advancing the state’s commitment to using taxpayer dollars effectively to deliver results. Through the BEAD program, Louisiana has worked with all service providers through different technologies, including fiber, fixed wireless and satellite to ensure universal coverage.
“Louisiana's partnership with SpaceX allows communities to look forward to better opportunities that come with dependable, high-speed internet access,” said Gov. Jeff Landry. “Starlink has helped our state during times of disaster, and we are grateful that the BEAD program will allow thousands to benefit from this technology. We are proud to continue the work and move toward universal coverage, ensuring every resident has the connectivity needed to succeed in today's economy.”
“SpaceX is pleased to provide our industry-proven broadband services to Louisianans across the state,” said Lauren Dreyer, vice president of Starlink Business Operations at SpaceX. “As part of the BEAD program, participants will benefit from Starlink’s reliable, high-speed, low-latency broadband services. This is a cost-effective step towards closing the digital divide and can offer faster onboarding to the digital economy.”
State leaders highlighted how partnerships like these are helping Louisiana reach its goal of providing every resident with reliable access by 2028, if not sooner.
“Louisiana’s broadband office is committed to protecting taxpayer funds and ensuring that those funds are put to good use,” said Veneeth Iyengar, executive director of ConnectLA. “With the state’s partnership with SpaceX, we will be able to work toward fully connecting Louisiana in a cost-effective manner while maximizing the impact of public investments.”
Louisiana continues to drive its mission of ensuring that every resident has access to reliable, high-speed internet. To see how broadband investments are making an impact across Louisiana, visit connect.la.gov.
About ConnectLA
The Louisiana Office of Broadband Development and Connectivity (ConnectLA) leads the state’s efforts to expand high-speed internet access and close the digital divide. Housed within the Louisiana Division of Administration, ConnectLA works across federal, state and local partners to identify and implement strategies that ensure every resident can benefit from reliable broadband connectivity. For more information, visit connect.la.gov.