State Unable To Appeal Internet Grant

Louisiana officials have been notified they can't appeal the loss of an $80 million federal grant to boost broadband Internet connections to rural areas of the state.

Loss of the grant has become a political blame game, with U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu and other Democrats saying the Jindal administration was at fault. Some have suggested Jindal Commissioner of Administration Paul Rainwater sabotaged the grant because he didn't like the government-run approach, which Rainwater denied.  The Board of Regents led the grant project and encountered delays. Rainwater's office reworked the plans to include public/private partnerships. The Commerce Department then rescinded the grant, questioning the changes and the timeline.