ENROLLED
2020 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 78
BY REPRESENTATIVES SCHEXNAYDER, GAROFALO, ADAMS, AMEDEE,
BACALA, BEAULLIEU, BRYANT, BUTLER, CARRIER, GARY CARTER,
ROBBY CARTER, CORMIER, COX, CREWS, DAVIS, DESHOTEL, ECHOLS,
EDMONDS, FIRMENT, FREIBERG, FRIEMAN, GADBERRY, GAINES,
GOUDEAU, HARRIS, HODGES, HORTON, HUGHES, ILLG, JEFFERSON,
JENKINS, MIKE JOHNSON, TRAVIS JOHNSON, JONES, JORDAN, KERNER,
LACOMBE, LANDRY, LARVADAIN, LYONS, MACK, MARCELLE, MARINO,
MCCORMICK, MCFARLAND, MCKNIGHT, MCMAHEN, MIGUEZ, DUSTIN
MILLER, GREGORY MILLER, MINCEY, MOORE, CHARLES OWEN,
PRESSLY, RISER, ROMERO, SCHAMERHORN, SELDERS, ST. BLANC,
STAGNI, THOMAS, THOMPSON, WHEAT, WHITE, WILLARD, AND WRIGHT
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To urge and request the Broadband for Everyone in Louisiana Commission to create and
provide broadband maps, in cooperation and coordination with the Federal
Communications Commission's efforts, to identify access and activation gaps in
Louisiana.
WHEREAS, in the modern economy, rural broadband is a lifeline to quality of life
and economic opportunity; and
WHEREAS, while broadband high-speed internet service is abundantly available in
Louisiana cities, it is woefully absent in the rural areas of the state; and
WHEREAS, according to the United States Department of Agriculture, eighty
percent of the twenty-four million American households who lack reliable and affordable
high-speed internet are in rural areas; and
WHEREAS, the federal government, though the United States Department of
Agriculture, is currently making investments in broadband infrastructures to help transform
rural America, providing innovation and technology to increase economic competitiveness
and opportunities; and
WHEREAS, the United States Department of Agriculture currently provides loans
and grants to increase high-speed internet access in rural areas; and
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WHEREAS, a reliable and accurate mapping of current broadband access and
activation gaps is critical to effectively utilizing these resources; and
WHEREAS, the currently available broadband maps have proven to be unreliable
and inaccurate; and
WHEREAS, a local approach to mapping will provide better information for
Louisiana residents and businesses to use in order to have access to broadband services.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
urge and request the Broadband for Everyone in Louisiana Commission within the office of
the governor to create and provide broadband maps using open-source software, in
cooperation and coordination with the Federal Communications Commission's efforts, to
identify access and activation gaps.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the broadband maps requested by this
Resolution be submitted to the House Committee on Commerce and the Senate Committee
on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs on or before January 1, 2021.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
Broadband for Everyone in Louisiana Commission within the office of the governor.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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