PROJECTS, STRATEGY & ACTION PLAN
BROADBAND GOALS & OBJECTIVES
GOAL 1 – Expand Broadband Infrastructure and Access.
OBJECTIVE
Improve broadband coverage in underserved and unserved areas across the CRPC region to reduce digital inequities and foster economic growth.
ACTION 1.1
Assist in targeting broadband infrastructure investments in high-priority parishes such as West Feliciana, St. Helena, and Washington, where a significant percentage of residents remain unserved.
ACTION 1.2
Collaborate with private broadband providers to leverage Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) potential locations for broadband expansion in Washington Parish (10,467 potential locations) and East Feliciana Parish (4,986 potential locations).
GOAL 2 – Promote Digital Literacy & Inclusion
OBJECTIVE
Enhance digital literacy programs targeting high digital illiteracy areas such as East Baton Rouge and Ascension Parish to ensure that residents can fully engage with digital services and opportunities.
ACTION 2.1
Develop and launch comprehensive digital literacy programs in collaboration with local libraries, community organizations, and educational institutions, prioritizing East Baton Rouge, where over 48,000 residents are digitally illiterate.
ACTION 2.2
Provide targeted training programs in Ascension Parish and Livingston Parish for vulnerable populations, with a focus on elderly residents and low-income households, to bridge the digital skills gap.
GOAL 3 – Make Broadband Affordable for Low-Income Households
OBJECTIVE
Address the affordability barrier by providing affordable broadband packages to low-income households in parishes with high poverty rates, such as Tangipahoa and Washington.
ACTION 3.1
Collaborate with broadband providers to create discounted broadband service packages for households below the poverty line in Tangipahoa Parish (21.7% poverty rate) and Washington Parish (24.9% poverty rate).
ACTION 3.2
Implement subsidy programs for broadband service fees for low-income families in collaboration with state and federal funding programs.
GOAL 4 – Support Economic Growth Through Digital Infrastructure
OBJECTIVE
Leverage expanded broadband access to promote local economic development, enabling rural communities to participate in the digital economy.
ACTION 4.1
Develop a digital business training and e-commerce program targeting small businesses in rural parishes such as Pointe Coupee and West Feliciana.
ACTION 4.2
Create tech hubs in underserved rural areas like St. Helena Parish, offering high-speed internet access, co-working spaces, agricultural applications and business incubators to support digital innovation and remote work.
GOAL 5 – Foster Long-Term Digital Resilience
OBJECTIVE
Ensure that broadband infrastructure remains resilient and capable of supporting future growth, especially in disaster-prone areas.
ACTION 5.1
Integrate broadband expansion into disaster resilience planning, particularly in flood-prone parishes like West Baton Rouge and Tangipahoa, to maintain communication networks during emergencies.
ACTION 5.2
Invest in backup power systems and renewable energy solutions for key broadband infrastructure to enhance resilience during natural disasters in vulnerable parishes such as Washington and St. Helena.
STAKEHOLDERS
ConnectLA RDOF Providers (Space Exploration Technologies Corp., CCO Holdings LLC, Segnem Egere Consortium, Commnet Wireless, Allen’s T.V. Cable Service, CenturyLink), Local Governments, CRPC, Broadband Providers, Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), Local Libraries, Public Schools, Community Colleges, Non-Profits, Social Service Agencies, Emergency Management Agencies, Private Investors, Tech Incubators, Energy Providers.