Michael Soileau, Director of LUS Fiber, joins us to discuss his vision for the organization. A native of Mamou, Michael graduated from Mamou High, and then earned a degree in International Business from UT in Austin and an MBA from LSU – Shreveport.

He took over the reins at LUS Fiber in May 2024. Before this appointment, Michael had worked exclusively in private enterprise. His past employers include Comcast NBCUniversal, specializing in the broadband and cable television business, as well as Toffler Associates, O3, Viya, Comcast Cable, AT&T Broadband, and Optel. He’s a proven business leader in sales, business development, and strategic planning in the telecommunication and fiber-optic industry.

Michael’s first work experiences in broadband came about through his work with Optel. The company was first acquired by AT&T Broadband, which was then acquired by Comcast Corporation, making it the largest broadband and cable subscription business provider in the U. S. Then, Comcast purchased 49% ownership of NBC, and several years later bought the remaining ownership in the broadcast network. These mergers resulted in Michael moving into the entertainment and distribution side of the business.

“I worked with Comcast NBC Universal for twenty years, in every operational role you can imagine….sales, marketing, finance, strategic planning on how to grow the business. With the Time Warner acquisition, affordabiIity came up. We started off offering programs for low-income households, and expanded it to sectors such as seniors, Veterans, students…different sectors of the community that can find broadband expensive. I learned so much.” Advocate staff photo by Leslie Westbrook.

Michael retired from Comcast and then dedicated his life to studies, earning an MBA from LSU. “I admit to being a lifelong learner. When I retired from Comcast, I went to school to get my Master’s degree. I had considered working in academia as I had guest lectured at UT for a while. I earned the degree to gain the needed credibility to lecture on international business. But I was reinvigorated by school to get back into the ‘business of the business.'”

He then spent a year and a half as CEO of O3, a digital experience consultancy based in Philadelphia. At O3, he focused on digital customer experience, strategy, and innovation, bringing the organization a fresh set of eyes on how to position it to tap into new markets and create innovative solutions.

Michael had maintained a residence in Lafayette in order to be close to his parents who still reside in Mamou. One day, his neighbor was visiting and they started talking about the open position at LUS Fiber. Rachel Godeaux, LCG’s Chief Administrative Officer, met with him and Michael then met with Lafayette Mayor Monique Boulet, who inspired him with her vision for Lafayette and the role fiber could play in attracting companies and driving economic development. “Her overarching belief in the importance of transparency in government was compelling.” He wasn’t looking for a position, but couldn’t say no.

Familiar with the history of LUS Fiber, having watched it from its inception back in 2005 when the citizens of Lafayette voted to make it a reality, he remembers having a conversation with the President of Comcast’s cable division, saying at the time, “This is a model that will hurt us because it drives community engagement and loyalty with in the community.” He further added during our interview, “Those are the values that we are all a part of by living here in Lafayette.”

“LUS Fiber has had 17 years of operations. We have the opportunity to rethink our marketing and ask what do we stand for, what is our brand, what is our promise to the community, how to reintroduce LUS Fiber to the the citizens who voted it in. They are my boss. I work for everyone in Lafayette and I want to make sure we are doing what they need us to do. Twenty years ago LUS Fiber made the promise that we would provide the best, most reliable, fastest speeds to the most homes possible.” Advocate staff photo by Leslie Westbrook.

There are still a few pockets in the city of Lafayette where LUS Fiber hasn’t built out. Multi-dwelling units (MDUs) have presented a challenge in adding the technology as building infrastructure limitations (lack of conduits and limited space to accomodate new lines), older electrical systems, and having to drill through walls and ceilings present hurdles to overcome. Michael says, “New construction is always easier. You don’t have to rip out walls to get to the wires. We haven’t had the best technology to provide our service to all. This is one of my biggest priorities, to find the technology solution that is scalable. I want something that is standardized and scalable. We hope to roll that out sometime next year.”

LUS Fiber has expanded its services outside the parish of Lafayette as a participant in the GUMBO Grant Program (Granting Unserved Municipalities Broadband Opportunities), a Louisiana initiative funded by federally- funded grants, designed to expand broadband access to underserved and unserved areas in the state. Its goal is to help bridge the digital divide by providing high-speed internet access, particularly in rural and economically disadvantaged areas in Acadiana. Towns such as Ville Platte, Mamou, Pine Prairie, and Reddell now have operational services, with Church Point next on the list of towns to have access to true broadband services. Acadia, Vermilion, and Iberia Parishes are also included in the grant funding that LUS Fiber will participate in to build out its broadband network. Michael says, “This doesn’t mean our eye isn’t on the ball in Lafayette. It absolutely is. We can do both things at one time,” referencing the priority of building out its fiber network to unserved areas in Lafayette.

“I want to retake the mantle of the most innovative provider in the country within the next three to five years. We will do that by pushing more innovative products, such as with Connected TV. More in-home innovation is another area that can be improved, to help ensure that customers experience the same level of service at one end of the house as the other. We also want to provide innovative services to people at all income levels. There are ways to offer a good broadband choice at an affordable level, so people don’t have to make a choice about paying their utility bill or their broadband bill. I want us to stay above the curve as the future evolves.”

LUS Fiber still offers cable tv services, and as well as a streaming product. They are currently testing a new application that will organize programming across multiple apps for easy search and discovery, which Michael projects will come out in the next 90 to 120 days.

In closing, Michael shared his love for our area and for LUS Fiber. “I love championing LUS Fiber. I want to remind people that we actually have the most reliable broadband in the area every time I can and educate people on our upcoming products, along with our team who will do the same thing. We are homegrown and employ people that live here and spend their dollars here. I’ve never seen a more impassioned group of employees than I have seen at LUS Fiber. There’s nothing but good stuff coming.”

We thank Michael Soileau for taking the time to share his experience and vision for our community through his role at LUS Fiber. For more information on services offered, visit https://www.lusfiber.com/.