David Jacobs

Louisiana is ahead of most states in its efforts to improve internet access and usage according to Jon Wilkins, a consultant and former chief operating officer for the Federal Communications Commission. By dedicating money from the federal American Rescue Plan Act to provide broadband infrastructure in rural areas, Louisiana will have a chance to tackle other aspects of the problem sooner, he says.

Louisiana should partner with the Federal Communications Commission to maximize funding for broadband infrastructure, said former Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai. The FCC's Rural Digital Opportunity Fund is a $20.4 billion program meant to promote broadband internet access in unserved and underserved areas.