La. Admin. Code tit. 4 § XXI-315

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 8, August 20, 2024

Section XXI-315 - Proposed Services, Marketing, Adoption, and Community Support

A. Every application shall include:

1. a description of services to be provided, including the proposed upstream and downstream broadband speeds to be delivered and any applicable data caps. Any applicant proposing a data cap shall provide justification to the satisfaction of the office that the proposed cap is in the public interest and consistent with industry standards;

2. the proposed advertised speed to be marketed to end-users (broken out by prospective broadband recipient);

3. the prices of all broadband service packages and the associated broadband transmission speeds that will be offered to consumers as a result of the project;

4. a plan to encourage users to connect that incorporates, at a minimum, community education forums, multimedia advertising, and marketing programs; and

5. any low-income household service offerings, digital equity or literacy support, or programs or partnerships to provide these services. The applicant should also indicate current participation in, or plans to, accept the federal Lifeline subsidy.

B. It is highly encouraged that every application should include:

1. a workforce plan prioritizing the hiring of local, Louisiana resident workers, to include a signed letter of intent with a post-secondary educational institution that is a member of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, containing an obligation upon the applicant, and contractors or subcontractors of the applicant, to put forth a good-faith effort to hire, when possible, recent graduates of broadband-related programs. At minimum, the workforce plan should also contain a commitment to offer wages at or above the prevailing rate and a description of the applicant's safety and training standards; and

2. evidence of support for the project from citizens, local government, businesses, and institutions in the community. The applicant may provide letters or other correspondence from citizens, local government, businesses, and institutions in the community that supports the project. Letters of support from a parish, municipality, or school board, or any instrumentality thereof, will be deemed material for scoring purposes.

La. Admin. Code tit. 4, § XXI-315

Promulgated by the Office of the Governor, Division of Administration, Office of Broadband Development and Connectivity, LR 47, Amended LR 47, Amended LR 481509 (6/1/2022), Amended LR 48, Amended LR 49

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 51:2370-2370.16.