Gov.Jeff Landry announced Louisiana is the first state in the nation to award federal Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) funding through the state’s GUMBO 2.0 program.
The state will deploy $1.355 billion in total through these awards to support broadband access throughout the state. GUMBO 2.0 will expand fiber optic connectivity to approximately 140,000 locations across the state. supporting 100,000 households, 35,000 small businesses and 4,000 community anchor institutions such as public safety locations, schools and hospitals. These broadband investments will drive significant economic growth for the state, creating 8,000 to 10,000 new jobs and $2 to $3 billion in new revenue for Louisiana companies.
“Louisiana is driving broadband for the rest of the country and delivering concrete, tangible results,” said Governor Landry. “This historic investment in our state’s broadband infrastructure will transform communities across Louisiana, providing the connectivity our residents need to thrive in the modern economy. I want to thank the Louisiana Office of Broadband Development and Connectivity for their leadership in ensuring all Louisianians benefit from this great investment.”