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Ouachita Parish adopts ordinance creating broadband advisory committee
Summary
The Ouachita Parish Police Jury adopted Ordinance No. 9411 on Feb. 22, 2022, establishing a seven-member Broadband Citizens' Advisory Committee to advise on expanding broadband to unserved and underserved areas; the vote was 5–0 with one juror absent.
Juror Larry Bratton, District C, offered Ordinance No. 9411 to create a seven-member Broadband Citizens' Advisory Committee to advise the Ouachita Parish Police Jury on opportunities to expand broadband services to unserved and underserved areas. The ordinance lays out appointment procedures (one nominee from each of the six districts and one at-large nominee by the Jury president), staggered initial terms, quarterly meetings, and requirements that the committee operate under Louisiana's Open Meetings Law.
The vice-president, Jack Clampit, presided over the public hearing on the ordinance; no members of the public spoke for or against it. The Jury adopted the ordinance by roll call: yeas (5) Mr. Scotty Robinson, Mr. Jack Clampit, Mr. Larry Bratton, Mr. Michael Thompson and Mr. Lonnie Hudson; nays (0); abstain (0); absent (1) Mr. Shane Smiley.
Juror Bratton presented a letter of support from Veneeth Iyengar of ConnectLA. The ordinance states the Broadband Citizens' Advisory Committee will recommend ways to extend broadband service in Ouachita Parish and report to the Police Jury at least quarterly. Meetings must be posted and minutes kept as public records. The ordinance becomes effective upon adoption.
The measure formalizes a citizens' advisory role intended to help the parish coordinate potential state and federal funding opportunities to reach areas the Parish identifies as unserved or underserved.
