By Pat Culverhouse
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry is passionate about getting the state’s rural residents connected to the Internet, things aren’t progressing as smoothly as officials would like.
Veneeth Iyengar, Executive Director of the Louisiana Office of Broadband Development and Connectivity, told members of the Webster Parish Police Jury Tuesday that the last 18 months “…have been a bit of a saga.”
“Through no fault of anyone here, there are things at the federal level that can’t be controlled,” he said.
Iyengar said that on Nov. 18 of 2024, 95 percent of the state’s residents would receive fiber optics after bids for providers, with roughly 80 percent of those going to Louisiana companies. And, he added, the state would have roughly $550 million left from the allocated $1.3 billion.
“We submitted everything before December, were approved on January 12, then on January 20 the Trump administration came into office along with a new Secretary of Commerce,” he said. “Things got dicey.”
With the new Secretary came delays, and bid-winning companies were waiting to begin work on their projects. Then came bad news.
“We were still waiting for approval through June 6 when we get notice that we have to start over with the process,” Iyengar said. “Things that had taken 18 months to accomplish now must be completed in 90 days.”
New bidding levels were resubmitted to the feds on August 15 and numbers changed. Now, 80 percent of residents would be getting fiber rather than 95 percent, and more would be receiving hybrid cable and satellite than before. There were, however, savings to the $1.3 billion allocated.
Iyengar said three separate programs are offered to the roughly 10,000 households and businesses in Webster Parish, two of which are administered by his agency. The third has no accountability to the agency.
Three providers are working with Gumbo funds in the parish and two of those reportedly has completed their project, Iyengar said.
“AT&T in Dixie Inn has 148 locations and they report they’re 100 percent complete,” he said. “We’re in the process of verifying that.”
Optimum, with 268 locations, also reports the project is complete and Iyengar said verification is being conducted.
Conexon Connect, the third provider with 4,241 locations to save, reports roughly 36 percent of its project is completed.
Jury President Jim Bonsall expressed his frustration with the incomplete project, telling Iyengar he did not blame the state.
“It’s not the state’s fault, but we’re told there will be fiber for everybody and now it isn’t,” he said “We have a pot load of money left to finish the project we started, we’re just not completing the work.”
Iyengar said Conexon had been receiving regular checks from the federal government, and the question the police jury should ask is why the project isn’t moving ahead.
“In Webster Parish, why aren’t you building fast enough,” he said. “They say they’re not getting the money, you can say BS.”
“We talk to them and they tell us exactly what you’re saying,” Bonsall replied.
Under the new bids, Webster Parish residents saw their connectivity options change, Iyengar said.
“Before the new rules, 2,000 in Webster Parish would have received fiber, now that number is 657. Before there were zero receiving cable, now that’s 1,240. Thirty were to receive satellite, now it’s 168,” he said.
While the delays might continue, if companies honor their commitments all 10,000 businesses and households in the parish would have connectivity by the end of 2028, Iyengar said.
“But, you have to continue to push,” he told the jury.
Iyengar said anyone who had questions or issues concerning Internet connectivity is urged to email his office at connect@la.gov.
“I have no problem emailing the companies and CCing the jury to have access to the contacts that I do,” he said.
Also during Tuesday’s meeting, jury members:
• Affirmed assessment of property reviewed under a filed protest.
• Heard the report of board of review and certification of the 2025 assessment of Webster Parish properties.
• Approved the annual off system bridge system requirements for 2025.
• Heard reports from various agencies.