SUBGRANT PROGRAM DOCUMENTS
The ConnectLA Team is pleased to release of the following documents related to the BEAD/GUMBO 2.0 subgrant process. These documents are meant to provide supplemental information and guidance to all parties with an interest in the state’s GUMBO 2.0 program and does not modify Louisiana's approved Initial Proposal. All GUMBO 2.0 prospective participants should thoroughly review the Initial Proposal to familiarize themselves with all program requirements prior to submitting applications.
BEAD POLICIES
The ConnectLA Team is pleased to share the following document. BEAD aims to expand and improve broadband access in underserved and unserved areas not just in Louisiana, but across the nation. The BEAD program is a critical component of the government's commitment to ensuring that all Americans have equitable access to high-speed internet, facilitating economic growth and opportunities for those historically underserved by broadband services. The link below provides more information.
APPROVED BEAD INITIAL PROPOSAL DOCUMENTS
BEAD INITIAL PROPOSAL
Louisiana received a $1.355 billion allocation from the BEAD program, the eighth-largest in the nation and 10th-largest per capita. Louisiana was also the first of all 56 states and territories to receive NTIA approval of the Initial Proposal. This means that broadband construction projects will have a head start in bringing high-speed, reliable and affordable internet to every home, business and community anchor institution in the state.
While Vol. 1 of the Initial Proposal details Louisiana’s plans for a challenge process to determine all locations eligible for BEAD funding, Vol. 2 covers the specific actions the state will take to completely eliminate the digital divide.
ConnectLA is proud that we have set the pace for the country in terms of speed and execution in policy setting. Nearly a third of the content in our Initial Proposal has been incorporated into other states’ plans. This is a win for Louisianians, as now the road toward complete digital opportunity in our state has been paved.
FIVE-YEAR ACTION PLAN
ConnectLA was founded with the goal of eliminating the digital divide in Louisiana by 2029. The comprehensive Five-Year Action Plan lays out the priorities of ConnectLA, adheres to guidance set out by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and outlines how BEAD funds will be allocated throughout the state.
The plan is informed by the number of unserved and underserved households, businesses and community anchor institutions in the state, in addition to research conducted for the Digital Opportunity Plan. We invite you to read our goals for increasing access, adoption, affordability, digital opportunity and inclusion, digital skills and economic development.
READ THE FIVE-YEAR ACTION PLAN
BEAD Challenge Process
As a requirement of Louisiana's BEAD Initial Proposal Vol. 1, ConnectLA completed the Louisiana Statewide Broadband Challenge Process to determine locations that need broadband service through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
ConnectLA is committed to ensuring every Louisianian is able to access high-quality broadband service. During the fall of 2023, we partnered with regional planning commissions and the Governor's Office of Rural Development to host stakeholder engagement sessions. A full briefing was provided on broadband efforts and the challenge process. Parish/municipal officials, non-profit organizations and internet service providers were eligible to challenge whether a location is served or not. The formal challenge process began Oct. 6, 2023 and ended on January 6, 2024. Results from the challenge process will directly impact the sub-project locations for BEAD eligibility.
BEAD Challenge Resources
This document provides an overview of the challenge process and how to participate.
The Challenge Process User Guide, created by Ready, outlines how to participate in the BEAD challenge process.
This document provides an overview and timeline of the challenge process.
Federal Deduplication Data Dictionary
LA GUMBO Deduplication Data Dictionary
Challenges - Location is a CAI (Missing)
These are challenge files from NTIA. Challengers will need to join the Location IDs from unserved and underserved files with the relevant location IDs in the deduplication files. Doing so will allow challengers to build an internal map for analysis.
In this webinar discussion, Deputy Director Thomas Tyler outlines the challenge process and answers questions.
Challenge Process Office Hours #1
Recording of office hours webinar from October 25th