Federal funds are available for Broadband in the parish

Evangeline Parish has earned the recognition of having the fifth worst Internet speeds in the United States. This statistic was brought to the forefront during the pandemic when parish residents were working from home and parish school children were learning from home. However, as former state senator, Gerald Long, explained federal funds are available to change that.
Senator Long is now working with United States Senator Bill Cassidy to bring increased Broadband access to rural areas of the state.
“I am absolutely excited about what the possibilities are for Evangeline Parish as we look down the road,” he said as he met with business and civic leaders in the meeting room of the Evangeline Parish Police Jury on Friday, April 23.
He went on to say, “Broadband is going to change the way economic development will take place, and it’s going to be for the good of the people.”
The former senator then explained the process that is rather lengthy but said, “the engine is beginning to rev up, and these federal dollars are going to be something extremely significant.”
One allotment of federal funds was passed under President Donald Trump’s administration when Evangeline Parish received $8.5 million. Senator Long explained that money is “sitting in the bank” but also said “there is a lot of structure and hoops to jump through.”
Although the process of receiving the funds is convoluted, according to Senator Long, Senator Cassidy is working to streamline the process to make the funds more accessible.
A second allotment of funds was received by the Evangeline Parish School Board. State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley is urging the board, as Senator Long said, “to spend as much of the money as possible on Broadband.”
A third allotment of federal funds will come as part of the most recent COVID-19 relief package that is sending $5.2 billion to Louisiana and $2.1 billion to local governments. “Those dollars that are coming to Evangeline Parish can be used for water projects, sewer projects, and Broadband,” said Senator Long.
Pending state legislation would create grant opportunities from a portion of Governor John Bel Edwards’ allotment of the stimulus package. Those grants would offer $182 million for Broadband access. On top of that, the legislation would call for a charging the Internet providers 25 percent to generate additional funds for increased access.
Senator Long said the exact rules on how to spend the funds are unclear at this time but will be made available to the state in the middle to the latter part of May. At that time, a regional meeting will be held in Alexandria for Evangeline Parish leaders. He also suggested the parish working on a regional approach and collaborating between all parish agencies such as the school board, municipalities, and the police jury.
The fruits of the federal funds will not be seen for three to four years, as acknowledged by Senator Long, but parish residents are being urged to take part in the process now by mapping Internet service as a way of finding out what the parish has and what the parish does not have.
“Delta Regional Authority has created and funded a mapping program for the State of Louisiana including Evangeline Parish,” said Senator Long, “but you have to participate.”
To participate, residents of the parish can log into the Delta Regional Authority Website and go to mapping. From there, residents will be instructed to call a telephone number that will automatically tabulate Internet availability.
“You have to get your people to make that phone call,” Senator Long implored. “It’s imperative. Until we know what we have or what we don’t have, it’s very difficult to know what we need to do.”