Andy Berke, senior Biden administration official and U.S. special representative for broadband with a mission of internet access and equity, joins host Lynda Woolard to discuss his recent trip to Louisiana. While here, he attended the inaugural Louisiana Internet for All Summit where he announced big digital infrastructure investments for our state and spoke with Louisianans in rural as well as urban areas to find out what issues we’ve been experiencing with connectivity. Acknowledging that high speed internet is now a part of critical infrastructure, President Biden has made a pledge that every American – including every person in Louisiana – will have access to affordable, reliable high speed internet.

To stay in the loop on broadband equity efforts, follow the National Telecommunications and Information Administration on Twitter and Facebook, and follow Andy Berke on Twitter.

While many of the new investments in Louisiana’s infrastructure are just getting started, there is already an option to visit http://affordableconnectivity.gov to apply for the Affordable Connectivity Program, which helps provide more accessible and affordable internet service to lower income households.

Read more about efforts to close Louisiana’s digital divide in the Alexandria Town Talk:

• Hundreds of millions headed toward expanding high-speed internet across Louisiana

• Broadband expansion in Louisiana has companies looking to recruit, train local workers

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Thanks to Ben Collinsworth for producing Louisiana Lefty, Jennifer Pack of Black Cat Studios for our Super-Lefty artwork, and Thousand Dollar Car for allowing us to use their swamp pop classic, Security Guard, as the Louisiana Lefty theme song.