Fiber Broadband Association Applauds Louisiana as State Breaks Ground on Nation’s Largest BEAD-Funded Fiber Project to Date

October 8, 2026 — The Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) today issued the following statement from President and CEO Gary Bolton on Louisiana breaking ground on the nation’s largest BEAD-funded fiber project to date:

“The groundbreaking in Louisiana marks an important milestone for BEAD and for America’s effort to connect every community with the critical fiber infrastructure it will depend on for generations.

“Louisiana is demonstrating what happens when we move beyond planning and put BEAD dollars to work building networks. This project will bring high-capacity, reliable fiber infrastructure to rural homes, farms, businesses, and communities where the economics have historically made deployment difficult.

“ConnectLA Executive Director Veneeth Iyengar and his team have demonstrated tremendous leadership in moving from planning to execution, and FBA has been proud to work alongside them throughout this effort. Louisiana is setting an example for states across the country as BEAD enters its most important phase: construction.

“This investment is about much more than closing today’s broadband gaps. Fiber provides the long-term infrastructure Louisiana’s communities will need to support economic development, precision agriculture, education, healthcare, small businesses, and the rapidly emerging AI economy.

“The measure of BEAD’s success will ultimately be the infrastructure we leave behind. Louisiana is putting fiber in the ground that will serve its communities for decades and ensure they can participate fully in whatever comes next.

“We congratulate Louisiana and ConnectLA on this important milestone and look forward to working with broadband offices across the country as America moves from BEAD planning to BEAD construction—and toward the goal of ensuring every community has access to reliable, future-ready fiber infrastructure.”