Connect Humanity

This is what a customer service representative told a long-term resident of East Carroll Parish when she called to ask for better broadband service.

Like most people in town, her internet service was slow, unreliable, and expensive. She was not happy with what she had.

East Carroll Parish is a rural, low-income community sitting on the west bank of the Mississippi River by Lake Providence, Louisiana. Almost half of residents live below the poverty line and almost two in three have no internet subscription.

Poverty and digital inequity go hand in hand

As in many poor, rural communities, traditional internet service providers have not invested in improving internet infrastructure there because they do not see it as lucrative. The resulting gaps in high-speed internet reinforce the town’s economic struggles. While East Carroll has a desperate need for jobs, businesses are put off from investing because they can’t get the fast broadband they need to thrive. And most people don’t have the connection they would need for remote work.

When Covid-19 hit, things went from bad to worse. Ms. Wanda Manning, now retired, was a teacher in the local elementary school. As classes moved online she saw that many of her students weren’t able to log in because they lacked internet access and digital devices. Witnessing these children miss out on their education, Ms. Manning realized the community was going to have to take matters into their own hands.

“The pandemic was the tipping point. We are building our own internet network to bring new jobs to the community, to improve schooling for students, and to enable residents to access healthcare without driving 70 miles for an appointment. We are bringing hope and opportunity — and we’re doing it on our terms” - Ms. Wanda Manning

A community taking control of its digital future

Spurred by the connectivity gaps made painfully clear by the pandemic, people in East Carroll started to organize and Ms. Manning, along with other advocates working with church-based coalition Delta Interfaith, formed an internet taskforce.

In February 2021, the group secured a grant from satellite internet firm Starlink to provide emergency connectivity to low-income families with school-aged children. 120 satellite dishes were distributed to residents with two years of free service. For those who received the service, the benefits were immediate. For some, it was life-changing. Like Latanya Gray Swift who was able to secure a well-paid remote job as a service representative for Apple, eliminating her 60-mile daily commute.

This partnership was just the first step — and Delta Interfaith started work on an ambitious plan to bring reliable, affordable fiber internet to all residents in East Carroll.

To turn this ambition into a reality, Connect Humanity provided a grant to create a Digital Equity Connectivity Plan. These plans include community engagement to understand what residents want, technical designs to build or expand a network, and analysis to define the finances and human resources needed to turn a project from shovel-worthy to shovel-ready.

A $4 million grant to build a fiber network fit for the 21st century

Armed with their plan, the taskforce secured a partnership with rural internet service provider Conexon Connect to design and build a 220-mile fiber-to-the-home network. East Carroll then became one of the first communities to be awarded with a GUMBO grant from the state of Louisiana, winning $4 million to help fund the network.

East Carroll residents were on their way to a better digital future. Service would be available to 2,500 homes and businesses and offer customers some of the fastest connectivity in the country with symmetrical gigabit upload and download speeds with plans starting at just $49.95 a month.

Sparklight CableOne tries to derail the network

Just as they were about to break ground, incumbent provider Sparklight Cable One launched an 11th-hour protest in a bid to block the GUMBO award and derail their network.

Delta Interfaith and the East Carroll community were not going to bow to Cable One's brazen attempt to keep out competition. With the support of Connect Humanity and other allies, they told their story, holding press conferences, meeting with local political representatives, speaking with local and national media, and organizing petition letters.

After adding weeks of delay, the Louisiana Broadband Office ultimately made the right call and rejected Cable One’s challenge. But the protest has kept families in East Carroll waiting longer still for the internet access they deserve. While celebrating their victory, residents of East Carroll remain vigilant as they brace for further roadblocks from Cable One.

Delta Interfaith is determined to build their network regardless of what happens with their GUMBO grant.

“Soon children will have the connection they need to do their school work from home. Local businesses will have broadband fit for the 21st century at a price they can afford. And we will no longer have to drive 70 miles for a doctor’s visit when an online consultation will do. This network means a better future for folks living in East Carroll.” - Ms. Wanda Manning

Connect Humanity has continued to support our partners in East Carroll Parish as we work with them to line up the rest of the financing they need.

A story happening across the US

East Carroll’s experience should act as a warning to communities across the US. As more government broadband funding flows, communities must be ready not only to win these grants, but to protect themselves from incumbent ISPs who are ready with armies of lawyers and lobbyists to try to shut down competition from community-owned networks.

Those of us who care about digital equity need to support these communities. Connect Humanity is ready to partner with funders, advocates, and policymakers to work with our community partners to make sure they get the broadband they deserve.

Read more about Delta Interfaith's fight for fiber in East Carroll.