BROADBAND GOALS
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.
TIMELINE: Year 1-3
BUDGET: $00
POTENTIAL PARTNERS:
- LA Connect
- RDOF providers (e.g., Space Exploration Technologies Corp.)
- Local government
EVALUATION OUTCOME:
- Increase broadband access for 10,000+ residents in underserved areas
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).
TIMELINE: Year 2-5
BUDGET: $00
POTENTIAL PARTNERS:
- CCO Holdings LLC
- Space Exploration Technologies Corp.
- Segnem Egere Consortium
EVALUATION OUTCOME:
- Expand broadband access in 15,000+ RDOF eligible 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.
TIMELINE: Year 1-4
BUDGET: $00
POTENTIAL PARTNERS:
- Local libraries
- Public schools
- Community colleges
- Nonprofits
EVALUATION OUTCOME:
- Decrease digital illiteracy by 20% in East Baton Rouge
TIMELINE: Year 2-5
BUDGET: $00
POTENTIAL PARTNERS:
- Local governments
- Senior centers
- Community tech programs
EVALUATION OUTCOME:
- Train 5,000 residents in basic digital literacy
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.
TIMELINE: Year 1-3
BUDGET: $00
POTENTIAL PARTNERS:
- Broadband providers
- Nonprofits
- Social services agencies
EVALUATION OUTCOME:
- Increase broadband adoption by 10% among low-income households
TIMELINE: Year 3-5
BUDGET: $00
POTENTIAL PARTNERS:
- State government
- Federal broadband funds
- RDOF providers
EVALUATION OUTCOME:
- Provide broadband service to 8,000 low-income households
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.
TIMELINE: Year 2-4
BUDGET: $00
POTENTIAL PARTNERS:
- Small business development centers (SBDCs)
- Chambers of Commerce
EVALUATION OUTCOME:
- Train 1,500 small businesses to improve their digital presence and e-commerce capabilities
TIMELINE: Year 3-5
BUDGET: $00
POTENTIAL PARTNERS:
- LSU Innovation Center
- LSU AgCenter Food Incubator
- BRAC
- Local governments
EVALUATION OUTCOME:
- Launch 2 tech hubs, serving 500+ entrepreneurs and remote workers annually
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.
TIMELINE: Year 1-5
BUDGET: $00
POTENTIAL PARTNERS:
- Emergency management agencies
- Local governments
- Broadband providers
EVALUATION OUTCOME:
- Ensure continuous broadband service during 80% of regional disasters
TIMELINE: Year 4-5
BUDGET: $00
POTENTIAL PARTNERS
- Local governments
- Energy providers
- Broadband companies
EVALUATION OUTCOME:
- Increase resilience for critical digital infrastructure in rural areas