BATON ROUGE— Governor Jeff Landry and other Louisiana lawmakers announced a nearly $1.5 billion dollar investment in broadband internet infrastructure Monday morning. 

Landry says the project, dubbed the Grant Unserved Municipalities Broadband Opportunities (GUMBO) 2.0, will increase internet access around the state and support thousands of households and businesses. The program uses federal funding awarded to the state from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act  passed by Congress in 2021.  

"I am convinced we are going to beat all the other states in being able to get this money implemented in the most effective, efficient and best way possible," Landry said.

The program is being implemented by the state's Office of Broadband Development and Connectivity created in 2020. Veneeth Iyengar, executive director of ConnectLA, says he hopes the new program will solve internet connectivity issues common in the rural parts of the state.

"This is an issue where there is absolute alignment between the governor, the legislature, all of U.S. stakeholders to singularly solve this problem. We're going to do it as quickly as possible," Iyengar said. 

Iyengar says 33 different internet service providers are working with the program to help the selected addresses get service. ConnectLA will receive the results of the program in six to eight weeks. 

Landry says the program is projected to create at least 8 thousand new jobs and will increase the state's GDP by at least $1.3 billion dollars. 

Congressman Troy Carter says he hopes the new program will bridge the state's digital divide.

"In an increasingly connected world, access to the internet is no longer a luxury – it is a necessity. Louisiana's GUMBO program is a commitment to ensure no community is left behind in the digital age. It is building a stronger, more inclusive future for everyone. Today, we are leveling the playing field to guarantee that geography does not determine one's access to information and essential services," Carter said.

Senator Bill Cassidy also praised the expansion.

"GUMBO 2.0 will play a direct role in expanding access to health care, growing our state’s small businesses, providing opportunities for our citizens to engage in remote work, and integrating technology into our agricultural sector. When we win in broadband, our citizens win, our communities win, our economy wins, and we position our state to win," Cassidy said.

The new grant program is an expansion of GUMBO 1.0, which launched in 2021. Over 80,000 addresses across 50 parishes were given internet access under the initial program.  

WBRZ has previously reported that access to the program could be blocked in some parishes due to a law passed earlier this year which blocks GUMBO funding to any city or parish that imposes franchise fees for broadband services.