Ribbon cutting held marking another high-speed internet project completion for LaSalle
Local and state officials gathered at the Olla Town Square Thursday, June 11, as the parish celebrated another milestone in the fast-track project of getting high speed internet access to all LaSalle Parish residents.
This particular phase of the massive project that began over five years ago, celebrated Brightspeed’s efforts in expanded their service to provide reliable, fiber internet access to 180 households and 28 businesses in LaSalle Parish, including the Olla area.
Brightspeed, the nation’s third-largest fiber builder, expanded digital infrastructure in areas that previously lacked dependable connectivity. This expansion adds to over 3,000 locations in LaSalle Parish that received access to Brightspeed Fiber Internet, positioning the parish for long-term growth.
With this latest expansion, the number of homes left without adequate internet is now down to just approximately 320 with plans to have those areas completed within two years. Five years ago, very few had access to high-speed internet and now nearly all of LaSalle Parish does, including many rural locations.
As Veneeth Iyengar noted during his remarks, the expansion by Brightspeed now allows more than one high-speed internet provider in most locations, giving customers a choice and promoting competition among providers resulting in savings for customers.
“This is what victory looks like,” Iyengar, the Executive Director of ConnectLA said. “People are getting the best infrastructure and families are saving money.”
He noted that just a few years ago, residents and businesses in the Olla area had their internet serviced by CenturyLink and conditions were not good.
“People were overpaying for pretty bad service – like $100-$150 for pretty mediocre service because that was the only option people had,” he said. “Now, because there’s competition and because of the federal funds, those same families that were overpaying for bad service are now probably saving 50, 60, 70, 80 dollars a month off their broadband bills while at the same time having the best infrastructure. When you can have the best infrastructure, and infrastructure that’s resilient along with people saving money, well, that’s a big deal.”
Olla Mayor Rhonda Elliott agreed that having the choices and the reliability is a huge advantage for her residents.
“This really means a lot to this community,” she said during the celebration and ribbon cutting event. “We’re a rural community and we used to have dialup, so we’re excited to have some broadband here today.”
District 22 State Representative Gabe Firment noted the reason LaSalle Parish can celebrate as a state leader in high-speed internet access is due to its unity.
“I have never seen where people from all over the parish come together with one common goal, united, to get something done,” he said. “When we had our first meeting over five years ago, there was a certain person, who will remain nameless, who said it would never happen. And lo and behold, here we are. I think we have one little area (not covered) in LaSalle but we’ve got plans to address them as well.”
District 32 State Senator Glen Womack also agreed that LaSalle Parish has lead the way in the state through its cooperation and work for high-speed internet by demonstrating what progress looks like.
“LaSalle Parish has taken front stage, and I know the community is going to benefit from this,” he said. “These are dollars well spent that’s going to affect everything from our children to our workplace to our workforce going forward.”
Brightspeed Governmental Affairs & Public Policy Principal Kevin Kastor pointed out the advantages of the fiber lines his company has installed throughout the parish such as the comforts of rural living with the internet of a major city.
“This is a great day. Brightspeed, in conjunction with ConnectLA and the GUMBO program, have been able to provide 3,800 locations across La Salle Parish, 1,100 of those right here in Olla,” he said. “The beauty of fiber is that you get all the benefits of a metropolitan area, including distance learning, telehealth capabilities, economic benefits, economic development benefits, civic engagement and more, and you no longer have to move out. I know for communities like this, that’s a big thing.”
While every speaker credited Iyengar for his leadership with ConnectLA for the work across the state and in LaSalle Parish, Iyengar was quick to credit others for their service in making the program work.
“When you have rural champions like Senator Womack, Representative Firment, and Mayor Elliott, who are advocating for what is needed and what’s in their best interest, it makes our job easier,” Iyengar said. “It takes everyone, federal, state and local partners to make things like today happen. I think what’s also great is the public sector taxpayer funds that are going towards building these networks is working with the private sector and the funds that they’re contributing to expand the GUMBO project to much more than what we have funded.”
Kastor also credited Iyengar and his team for all they have achieved during the past five years.
“I need to thank you (Iyengar) and your team,” Kastor said. “Louisiana has been out in front on this conversation for the better part of five years. Your work has been exemplary. Other states look to you as best practices for how to work with providers, how to work with the community, how to be transparent and how to be collaborative. And without your efforts, this wouldn’t be successful.”
Also present at the event representing Governor Jeff Landry was Stuart Hodnett, Regional Director of Gov. Landry’s Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.
“It’s good to partner with you all and the Governor sends his warm regards to what we’re doing to continue to grow this area,” he said. “Especially in north Louisiana, where we’re finally seeing some growth that south Louisiana has been seeing for all these years. I think this reflects on what we’re doing and what we’re building. It’s a lasting change.”
For more information about ConnectLA and the GUMBO projects, visit: connect. la.gov.
“This is what victory looks like. People are getting the best infrastructure and families are saving money.”
– Veneeth Iyengar, Executive Director of ConnectLA
