Louisiana Ranks Fourth Nationally in Broadband Expansion as 52,000 More Homes and Businesses Gain Access

Louisiana is making measurable progress in expanding high-speed internet access, with more than 52,000 additional homes and businesses gaining access to broadband during the second half of 2025.

According to the Louisiana Office of Broadband Development and Connectivity, known as ConnectLA, newly released Federal Communications Commission data show the number of locations served statewide increased by 3.16% over the six-month period.

That placed Louisiana fourth nationally in proportional growth, compared with a national average of 0.9%.

For Louisiana communities that have struggled with unreliable internet service, the expansion represents more than another economic-development statistic.

It means additional households and businesses can access services that have become essential to modern life.

Why Broadband Matters Beyond the Cities

For years, many rural Louisiana residents have faced limited choices when it comes to internet service.

Some households have relied on fixed wireless connections, satellite service or mobile hotspots because traditional high-speed connections were unavailable.

That can create challenges for students completing schoolwork, employees working remotely, patients using telehealth services and small businesses trying to compete online.

Reliable broadband can also affect whether a family chooses to live in a particular community or whether a business can operate efficiently outside a major population center.

Expanding service into underserved areas gives residents additional options without requiring them to relocate.

A Louisiana Resident Sees the Difference

ConnectLA highlighted the experience of Lance Milligan, a resident of Dixie Inn, who previously relied on two separate fixed wireless connections to meet his household's internet needs.

After fiber service became available through Louisiana's GUMBO 1.0 broadband program, Milligan switched to a single gigabit connection.

According to ConnectLA, the new service provides faster and more reliable connectivity at a lower monthly cost than his previous arrangement.

His experience illustrates the potential benefits of expanding broadband infrastructure into communities where residents have historically had limited service options.

What This Means for Louisiana's Economy

Louisiana is pursuing major investments in aerospace, advanced manufacturing, energy, technology and other industries.

But economic development is not limited to the communities hosting billion-dollar projects.

Smaller towns and rural parishes also need the infrastructure that allows residents and businesses to participate in a modern economy.

A reliable internet connection can help a local contractor submit bids, allow a small business to reach customers outside its immediate community and give residents access to educational and professional opportunities that might otherwise require traveling long distances.

Broadband expansion is particularly important for communities seeking to retain younger residents and attract new businesses.

The availability of high-speed internet does not guarantee economic growth, but limited connectivity can make it harder for communities to compete.

The Work Is Not Finished

Louisiana's fourth-place ranking measures the percentage increase in locations with broadband available during the reporting period.

It does not mean Louisiana has the nation's fourth-highest overall broadband coverage, nor does it establish that every newly served household has subscribed to the service.

Affordability, reliability and the availability of service in the state's most difficult-to-reach communities remain important questions.

The latest figures nevertheless show that Louisiana is making progress in expanding the infrastructure needed to connect more residents and businesses.

For the 52,000-plus additional locations where broadband became available, that progress is becoming something tangible: another option for connecting to the rest of the world.

And for Louisiana's rural communities, that connection can make a meaningful difference.

Source: Louisiana Office of Broadband Development and Connectivity (ConnectLA) .

Louisiana set to achieve statewide high-speed internet access by 2028, outpacing the federal 2030 goal

Roughly 450,000 Louisianans, enough to fill Tiger Stadium more than four times, have received access in just two years.

Gov. Jeff Landry announced today that Louisiana is significantly ahead of schedule in its effort to provide high-speed internet access to every Louisiana resident.

Since the beginning of the Landry Administration, more than 150,000 additional households, small businesses, and community organizations have received access. This growth has been achieved through private investment and federal funds put to work by Louisiana’s internet service providers, with most new service delivered through fiber.

“When I took office, about 83% of our state had access to high-speed internet. Today we’re approaching 93%. That’s nearly 450,000 people, more than four Tiger Stadiums full, who now have the tools they need to work, learn, and compete. We got here by listening to residents, focusing on results, and keeping the work moving, and we’re going to keep pushing until every family in this state has the same kind of reliable access.”

Gov. Jeff Landry

Louisiana’s broadband progress has earned significant national attention. The state became the first in the country to receive full federal approval of its BEAD plan and now ranks among the top 10 states for the percentage of households receiving fiber connectivity through BEAD, as well as the cost efficiencies achieved under the GUMBO 2.0 program. In total, Louisiana identified more than $800 million in savings, with federal guidance on their use expected by March 2026.

“This work is delivering real value to taxpayers. We are stretching every dollar and moving faster than Washington ever expected.”

Gov. Jeff Landry

Over the past several weeks, representatives from the governor’s office and ConnectLA have joined local leaders and internet providers to celebrate completed broadband projects in Vernon, Vermilion, and Acadia parishes, where Gumbo 1.0 investments have provided access to thousands of homes and hundreds of small businesses. More ribbon cuttings are planned for completed projects in Allen, Grant, LaSalle, Avoyelles, and other parishes, along with groundbreaking ceremonies for new construction made possible through federal BEAD funding.

Early 2026 is expected to bring the most significant broadband construction activity Louisiana has ever undertaken. Projects entering the ground phase will connect more than 127,000 new households and bring service to another 30,000 households through the completion of GUMBO 1.0 work already underway.

“These wins show up in real places, not spreadsheets. They’re the farms, the classrooms, and the small businesses that finally have the infrastructure they’ve waited on for years. With this momentum, Louisiana is on pace to reach full high-speed internet access in 2028, if not sooner. That’s two years at minimum before the federal goal. And we’re not slowing down.”

Veneeth Iyengar
Executive Director of ConnectLA

Visit the ConnectLA website to learn more

Letter: Conservatives in Louisiana Support KOSA

Photo source: The Hilltopper

As a parent, I am deeply concerned about the growing risks they face online, and that’s why I joined over 20 other Louisianans to support the Kids Online Safety Act through the petition below.  This critical legislation takes important steps to hold tech companies accountable for the safety of young users, providing stronger protections against harmful content, cyberbullying, and online predators.

Conservatives for KOSA

In today’s digital age, children are increasingly exposed to dangers that can harm their mental and emotional well-being. Social media platforms and other online services often fail to properly protect young users from inappropriate or harmful material, and many are designed to keep kids engaged for longer periods, which can have negative consequences on their health. KOSA prioritizes transparency from online platforms and gives parents the tools they need to better protect their children. I believe this bill is an essential step in ensuring that our kids can safely navigate the internet without being exposed to the many harmful elements that exist online.

As a parent, I want to feel confident that the platforms my children use are not only fun and educational but also safe and responsible. The Kids Online Safety Act offers a much-needed solution by implementing age-appropriate safeguards and giving parents more control over their children’s online experiences. I believe that protecting children’s safety online is a responsibility we all share, and I urge our lawmakers to take swift action in passing KOSA to safeguard the future of our children and families.

Kathy Willard

The Conservative Case for KOSA

Photo source: CNN

In a time where technology permeates every facet of our lives, ensuring the safety of our children online is paramount. The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) stands as a critical legislative effort to protect our youth from the dangers lurking on the internet. 

Just this past week, Moon Griffon did an interview highlighting the importance of this bill. He spoke with Brandon Guffey, a state representative from South Carolina, about the bill and how the issue affected him personally. 

Guffey has become a prominent advocate for the Kids Online Safety Act following the tragic suicide of his 17-year-old son, Gavin. In July 2022, Gavin Guffey became a victim of sexual extortion after being manipulated by an online scammer on Instagram. This scam led to Gavin's untimely death, which has deeply impacted his family and driven his father to take action against Big Tech.

He joined Moon Griffon last week to speak about his story and how KOSA could save children like his son Gavin.  

Listen to Moon’s Interview Here: 

Brandon Guffey on Moon Griffon

Other conservatives from across the country has stood up and supported KOSA as well!

Kellyanne Conway, a strong conservative advisor for President Trump said of the bill: "Increasingly, children are vulnerable to online distortion and exploitation due to social media use. Social media can be a force for good, but also lurking there are traffickers, drug dealers, and other bad actors." 

Mercedes Schlapp echoes this sentiment, stressing the accountability of Big Tech: "Big Tech must be held accountable for refusing to protect children from online harms. It’s past time for social media platforms to prioritize the safety of children by adding stronger privacy settings and preventing the promotion of harmful content to minors."

The Conservative Case for KOSA

1. Protection from Exploitation and Abuse: The internet, while a tool for education and connectivity, has become a breeding ground for predators. KOSA aims to curb the exploitation of minors by implementing stringent privacy settings and giving parents more control over their children's online activities. As Morgan Ortagus, a former State Department spokesperson, states, "By requiring social media platforms to enable strong private settings by default, our minors will be better defended against the exploitation attempts visible every day on these platforms."

2. Safeguarding Mental Health: The mental health crisis among teenagers, exacerbated by social media, is a pressing concern. Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti points out, "Algorithmic social media platforms have devastated teen mental health." KOSA addresses this issue by ensuring platforms prioritize the mental well-being of young users.

3. Bipartisan Support Reflects Urgency: Former Governor Mike Huckabee notes, "Protecting America’s children is not a political issue, but a public safety concern that transcends the normal horizontal political spectrum of left/right." The bipartisan nature of KOSA underscores its importance and the universal agreement on the need for such protections.

4. Holding Big Tech Accountable: Harmeet Dhillon, a staunch advocate against Big Tech’s overreach, asserts, "The Kids Online Safety Act will put rules into place to prevent these platforms from exploiting vulnerable kids and will give families a remedy against the CEOs who offer false apologies but enable these practices for profit and ideological reasons." KOSA ensures that Big Tech companies are no longer immune to the consequences of their inaction.

KOSA represents more than just a legislative act; it embodies a commitment to pro-family and pro-America values. The Kids Online Safety Act is a crucial step in safeguarding our children online. . 

Louisiana has a unique opportunity with the amount of power concentrated in Washington DC that hails from the bayou. It’s time for our leaders in Washington to step up and support the Kids Online Safety Act now!