CENTRAL — Ground has officially been broken on a major high-speed fiber-optic expansion project in Central. The initiative will deliver high-speed internet access to more than 2,800 homes and businesses across East Baton Rouge Parish.

The expansion is part of the federally funded Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce. Local provider REV Fiber is leading the deployment.

Louisiana made national headlines last year as the first state in the country to receive federal approval for its BEAD proposal. Since then, the state has positioned itself as a national leader in expanding high-speed infrastructure to underserved rural and suburban areas.

Governor Jeff Landry, who attended the event, said, "Right now, Louisiana is leading the country in bringing broadband to our rural communities. This actually closes the gap in the greater Baton Rouge metropolitan area, and as we've seen, opportunities just abound." 

Officials say the East Baton Rouge Parish project is designed to close the digital divide across the Greater Baton Rouge metropolitan area, opening up new opportunities for remote work, education, local business and essential services.

The Central site is one of many projects underway across the region. REV Fiber is currently executing 10 additional broadband expansion projects throughout South Louisiana under the BEAD program framework.