USDA INVESTS $12 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO EXPAND HIGH-SPEED BROADBAND IN RURAL LOUISIANA

Louisiana ReConnect Funding is to be used to connect additional 1,472 Rural Households to High-Speed Fiber Broadband.   Maringouin, LA., Dec. 9, 2020 – The USDA just announced that they will be using a portion of the allotted $550 million Congress earmarked to the second round of the ReConnect Program to support the expansion of high-speed fiber broadband in rural Louisiana. The project will cost $12.5 million and will help connect over 1,400 rural households, 69 businesses, five education facilities, and two essential community facilities in Rapides, Concordia, Pointe Coupee, Avoyelles, and Evangeline parishes. Earlier this year Star Communications was announced as a recipient in the first round of the ReConnect Program. In all, Star Communications will be working on deploying fiber to 4,009 rural households, 81 businesses, and 161 farms. In addition to Rapides, Concordia, Pointe Coupee, Avoyelles, and Evangeline parishes, the USDA grant will support the 154 miles of fiber builds in Iberville, Pointe Coupee, and St. Landry parishes. According to Representative Johnson, “Every dollar spent is probably one of the best investments the state can make because when they are investing in broadband, they are investing in education, health, economic development, and safety. I don’t know anything else that you can spend one dollar on and get $50 worth of value back.” Tim May, General Manager for Star Communications said, “We are excited to get started on these projects. We know that the residents and businesses in these areas are eager for faster internet speeds and we would like to get started as soon as the proper permits, and approvals are in place. We anticipate that we will be able to start turning dirt in the next 8-12 months and the project as a whole should roughly take around 5 years to complete.”