New group to promote FTTP plan in Lafayette, Louisiana

Fiber Optics Weekly Update, May 13, 2005

A group has formed to begin raising money to operate a grassroots campaign of support in the upcoming election over funding the Lafayette Utilities System telecommunications plan. Lafayette Coming Together has formed a political action committee and launched a Web site at http://www.lafayettecomingtogether.com, according to a release from the group. The group also had a booth at the recent Tech South conference held in Lafayette, Louisiana.

LUS will ask voters on July 16 to approve up to $125 million in bonds to pay for a fiber-optic network to each home and business in the city in order to provide low-cost phone, cable, and high-speed Internet service.

"LCT believes that the LUS fiber project represents an important step toward a brighter future for the Lafayette community, and is working to realize that vision," the release says.

The group said it will canvass neighborhoods, maintain an e-mail network, provide a clearinghouse for information, contact legislators, and solicit donations for buttons, yard signs and bumper stickers.

"Our members come from different political parties, different parts of town, different occupations, races, and ages," the release says.

Another group of residents formed an anti-LUS plan organization, Fiber 411, to force an election, but they have said they have no plans to raise money to fight for a "no" vote.