This week Louisiana became the first state to obtain approvals under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for all its projects under the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program, encompassing nearly 25,000 serviceable projects. This accomplishment marks significant progress toward bringing high-speed Internet to all communities across the state. According to the Executive Director of ConnectLA, the state is on track to eliminate the "digital divide" by 2028.
This is not a minor accomplishment. Under NEPA, federal law requires agencies to assess any reasonably foreseeable environmental impacts of major federal action. It is one of two federal statutes requiring significant action, the other one being the National Historical Preservation Act (NHPA). A recent NERA study commissioned by CTIA finds that the combined requirements cost $7.5 billion in lost value over ten years.
The Louisiana Office of Broadband Development and Connectivity (ConnectLA) leads the state’s efforts to expand high-speed Internet access. It works with federal, state, and local stakeholders to identify and implement strategies for expanding coverage. ConnectLA oversees the state’s GUMBO 2.0 Project backed by the federal BEAD awards. Louisiana is to be commended for its focused efforts to make the most of BEAD funding.
However, much remains to be done. This is especially true given that states face a deadline for completing projects with federal money. States need to move forward as quickly as possible, working closely with other involved agencies to develop joint strategies for building out the network.
Two changes in policies could make a difference in advancing broadband deployment. As long advocated by FSF scholars, implementing permitting reforms could significantly reduce the time required for obtaining state and local approvals for BEAD deployments. Second, the Department of Commerce could allow some part of BEAD’s non-deployment money ($21 billion) to pay for measures required to be implemented by state and local officials to speed deployments and for other actions such as quickly resolving pole attachment disputes.
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