Ajit Pai: Louisiana should partner with feds to enhance broadband investment

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. Thirteen providers seeking to offer service in Louisiana received a total $342.2 million last year in the program’s first phase. The next phase of the program will focus on “filling in partially served areas,” said Pai. He urged state officials to work closely with the FCC, in particular people who are working on maps to show where the needs are, when deciding where to make broadband investments. “It’s important for Louisiana and the agency to work closely together to make sure that the dollars you’re about to get are stretched as far as they possibly can be,” he said. Implementing “dig once” policies, ensuring conduits for internet service can be laid inexpensively when a road is dug up for repairs, also can help promote access in a state, Pai said. He also advocated municipalities promoting “quicker and cheaper” access to utility poles to streamline deployment.