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Acadia Parish is steadily closing the digital divide as Louisiana pushes forward with ambitious broadband expansion efforts.
Edited by Brad Randall, Broadband Communities
New projects under Louisiana’s Granting Unserved Municipalities Broadband Opportunities (GUMBO) 1.0 program have brought reliable, high-speed internet to 307 homes and 80 businesses in rural Acadia Parish, Louisiana.
Meanwhile, according to Connect LA, additional work with LFT Fiber has connected 40 more locations in the parish, marking significant progress in areas that previously struggled with unreliable service.
LFT Fiber has previously worked to expand connectivity in the parish, with this latest chapter strengthening an ongoing partnership.
As of today, Acadia Parish is well on track to achieve full broadband connectivity by 2028, if not sooner, Connect LA reports.
Additionally, roughly 1,800 area locations will gain access through forthcoming Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) projects scheduled to break ground in the coming weeks. State leaders stress that these expansions are vital for rural communities to thrive and compete economically in the long term.
“These broadband expansions show that real progress happens when we stay focused on delivering results,” said Governor Jeff Landry.
State Representative Phillip DeVillier noted, “Expanding broadband in Acadia Parish means more than faster internet. It strengthens our local economy, supports small businesses and ensures our communities can compete and grow.”
Other legislators highlighted how internet access reshapes everyday life and economic prospects in Acadia Parish.
State Representative Chance Henry remarked, “In a parish like Acadia, access to reliable internet directly impacts how people work, learn and stay connected.” Meanwhile, State Senator Mark Abraham pointed to the connection between infrastructure and growth: “When communities have dependable connectivity, they are better positioned to attract investment and support employers.”
Some AI tools assisted in the crafting of this report.
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