# Louisiana Begins BEAD Fiber Deployment

Louisiana’s GUMBO 2.0 program has reached two reported national firsts under the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program: Pelican Broadband connected Coushatta’s first BEAD-funded fiber customers, and SkyRider Communications began the first BEAD fiber construction. The milestones show that BEAD implementation in Louisiana has progressed into both service delivery and field construction, creating relevant market activity for firms supporting fiber infrastructure projects in the state.

- The Louisiana Office of Broadband Development & Connectivity administers the state program, while the National Telecommunications and Information Administration oversees the federal BEAD program.
- Pelican Broadband, SkyRider Communications, and deployment contractor Etheridge Pipeline & Conduit are identified as participants in service delivery or infrastructure work.
- Fiber construction, conduit, and related deployment firms can assess whether their capabilities align with Louisiana’s ongoing BEAD implementation; the signal does not identify a specific open solicitation or contract value.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Information Technology, Construction & Infrastructure
**Topics:** Digital Infrastructure, Grants & Funding
**Published:** October 14, 2026

### Government Entities
- Louisiana Office of Broadband Development & Connectivity
- National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)

### Vendors
- Pelican Broadband (BEAD fiber service provider; connected Coushatta’s first BEAD fiber customers)
- SkyRider Communications (BEAD fiber construction provider; began fiber construction)
- Etheridge Pipeline & Conduit (Contractor supporting fiber infrastructure deployment)

### Sources
- [Louisiana delivers back-to-back national firsts in BEAD fiber deployment | Benton Institute for Broadband & Society](https://www.benton.org/headlines/louisiana-delivers-back-back-national-firsts-bead-fiber-deployment) - Benton Institute for Broadband & Society