Households and small businesses in Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu and Jeff Davis parishes are among 66,000 in 50 parishes that will get internet service through a $130 million investment from the American Rescue Plan.

Gov. John Bel Edwards said the total investment from the plan is $176 million, and Monday’s announcement of $130 million is being used for the first phase. Edwards was joined by state lawmakers, local elected leaders in north Louisiana and Kim Hunter Reed, commissioner of higher education.

Applications for the first phase were submitted through Louisiana’s broadband grant program called Granting Unserved Municipalities Broadband Opportunities (GUMBO). Edwards laid the groundwork when in 2019 he signed an executive order creating the Broadband for Everyone Louisiana Commission with the goal of eliminating the digital divide by 2029.

The list of parishes benefiting from the first phase can be found at www.connect.la.gov.

Cable South/Swyft Fiber is the internet provider for Allen Parish. The total project cost is $7.1 million and its GUMBO award is $3.2 million. The company will serve 3,193 locations.

AT&T and CSC Holdings LLC are the internet service providers in Beauregard Parish. AT&T’s total project cost is $1.1 million and the award is $813,392. It will serve 442 locations. CSC Holdings’ total project cost is $1.4 million and its award is $703,398. It will serve 183 locations.

AOP is the company that will provide the service in Calcasieu and Jeff Davis parishes. Its total project cost is $3.8 million and its award is $3 million. The company will serve 1,465 locations.

AT&T will also serve Calcasieu Parish. Its total project cost is $67,419 and its award is $42,272. It will serve 11 locations.

Cajun Broadband Inc. will also serve Jeff Davis Parish. Its total project cost is $400,000 and its award is $320,000. It will serve 110 locations.

Edwards said, “We have another $43 million in funds from the ARP we will award by October, and we are expecting an additional significant amount of federal funds from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that will be awarded next year to continue to address access, affordability, and literacy.”

Veneeth Iyengar, executive director of ConnectLA, said, “Today culminates all of the hard work that our stakeholders (teachers, parents, small business owners, public safety and parish officials) have given towards addressing the digital divide.” He added it will also create hundreds and thousands of good paying jobs.

Iyengar said the Affordable Connectivity Program of the Federal Communications Commission has a benefit program that provides a discount up to $30 per month for eligible households to receive internet service. Some 300,000 Louisiana households are already receiving that benefit, he said.

There are also other discounts for laptops and computers. The program is explained at www.fcc.gov/acp.

State Rep. C. Travis Johnson, D-Vidalia, said he appreciated Edwards making the announcement in East Carroll Parish because it is one of the least connected communities in the state.

Rep. Chris Turner, R-Ruston, and chairman of the Legislative Rural Caucus, said, “This is a huge win for the people of rural Louisiana.”