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Comcast says Caddo Parish broadband build is about 90% complete, cites 2,000 addresses served
Summary
Comcast told the Caddo Parish Commission its multi-year broadband build has released more than 2,000 addresses in the parish and is roughly 90% complete; company and commissioners discussed funding sources, permitting hurdles and underground vs. aerial placement.
Solomon Graves, government affairs manager for Comcast, told the Caddo Parish Commission the company’s multi-year broadband project that began in December 2022 has ‘‘released over 2,000 addresses, within Caddo Parish’’ and that the work is ‘‘right at 90%’’ complete for Comcast-funded portions.
Graves said about 1,500 of the addresses were funded by Comcast while roughly 500 were supported with state “gumbo” funds, and he described the build’s rural footprint — including Gilliam, Keithville, Mooringsport, Oil City, Vivian and parts of Shreveport. ‘‘This project was largely centered around creating economic opportunity for the rural areas of Caddo Parish,’’ he said.
Commissioners pressed Comcast on completion timing, reliance on federal/state broadband funding and construction methods. Commissioner Roy Burrell noted media reports about federal BEAD funding and asked whether Comcast would use those dollars; Graves replied that the company will use available funding sources but that the parish’s BEAD allocation did not include Caddo Parish and that Comcast’s own-funded work accounts for most remaining construction.
On technical choices, Comcast representatives said the build required more underground placement than originally planned because of clearance and canopy constraints. ‘‘Most of our plant is underground at this point,’’ a Comcast construction lead said, noting the company used local permitting and utility coordination to manage complications.
Graves acknowledged there were ‘‘hiccups’’ during the rollout and said Comcast would continue to work with parish public works and residents to resolve outstanding issues. He said the gumbo-funded phase of the project was completed in advance of a state deadline and that a portion of Comcast-funded work will extend into 2026, with a target to wrap broader project activity in Q1.
The presentation concluded with commissioners urging care during digging and coordination with district staff; the commission did not take formal action on the update but recorded discussion and follow-up requests for permitting and completion status.
