Governor Ron DeSantis has announced $60 million in awards through the Broadband Opportunity Program to expand broadband Internet access in Florida’s unserved communities. The awards will support 22 projects in 19 Florida counties for broadband Internet expansion that will impact nearly 58,000 unserved residential, educational, agricultural, business, and community locations. With this investment, more than $226 million has been awarded to expand broadband Internet access across the state, helping to connect more than 250,000 homes and businesses. The Broadband Opportunity Program funds the installation and deployment of broadband Internet infrastructure in unserved Florida communities, providing valuable access to telehealth, economic, educational, and workforce development opportunities.
Quoting flgov.com, Governor Ron DeSantis has announced $60 million in awards through the Broadband Opportunity Program to expand broadband internet access in Florida’s unserved communities. These awards will support 22 projects in 19 Florida counties for broadband internet expansion that will impact nearly 58,000 unserved residential, educational, agricultural, business, and community locations. Including today’s awards, more than $226 million has been awarded to expand broadband internet access across the state, helping to connect more than 250,000 homes and businesses.
“This $60 million in awards brings our total investment in broadband to more than $226 million to expand broadband internet access in Florida’s under-connected communities,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “With this investment, we are connecting more than 250,000 unserved homes and businesses and expanding opportunities in rural communities.”
Today’s awards follow the more than $144 million Governor DeSantis awarded in February and more than $22 million awarded in April, bringing Florida’s total investment to more than $226 million for the expansion of broadband internet in Florida’s small and rural communities, impacting a total of more than 250,000 homes and businesses across the state.
“Thanks to Governor DeSantis’ leadership, Floridians won’t need to leave their hometowns to access education, healthcare, and business res due to lack of broadband internet access,” said Department of Economic Opportunity Acting Secretary, Meredith Ivey. “Small and rural communities across the state will be able to connect to fast, reliable broadband internet at their home or business and can take advantage of the opportunities that accompany broadband internet connectivity.”
Administered by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), the Broadband Opportunity Program funds the installation and deployment of broadband internet infrastructure in unserved Florida communities, providing valuable access to telehealth, economic, educational, and workforce development opportunities to offer a brighter future for all Floridians.
The following projects will be awarded through the Broadband Opportunity Program:
Southeast Arcadia ($4,997,588) — to add 13 miles of fiber optic cable to provide 497 unserved locations with broadband internet access.
Northwest Alachua County ($3,488,214) — to add 10 miles of fiber optic cable to provide 1,007 unserved locations with broadband internet access.
Northwest Alachua County ($1,759,973) — to add 5 miles of fiber optic cable to provide 288 unserved locations with broadband internet access.
Southwest Hardee County ($3,159,000) — to add 10 miles of fiber optic cable to provide 1,000 unserved locations with broadband internet access.
Southwest Hendry County ($1,056,000) — to add 3 miles of fiber optic cable to provide 200 unserved locations with broadband internet access.
Southwest Hendry County ($1,190,000) — to add 3 miles of fiber optic cable to provide 200 unserved locations with broadband internet access.
Southwest Hendry County ($1,190,000) — to add 3 miles of fiber optic cable to provide 200 unserved locations with broadband internet access.
Southwest Hendry County ($1,190,000) — to add 3 miles of fiber optic cable to provide 200 unserved locations with broadband internet access.
Southwest Hendry County ($1,190,000) — to add 3 miles of fiber optic cable to provide 200 unserved locations with broadband internet access.
Southwest Hendry County ($1,190,000) — to add 3 miles of fiber optic cable to provide 200 unserved locations with broadband internet access.
Southwest Hendry County ($1,190,000) — to add 3 miles of fiber optic cable to provide 200 unserved locations with broadband internet access.
Southwest Hendry County ($1,190,000) — to add 3 miles of fiber optic cable to provide 200 unserved locations with broadband internet access.
Southwest Hendry County ($1,190,000) — to add 3 miles of fiber optic cable to provide 200 unserved locations with broadband internet access.
Southwest Hendry County ($1,190,000) — to add 3 miles of fiber optic cable to provide 200 unserved locations with broadband internet access.
Southwest Hendry County ($1,190,000) — to add 3 miles of fiber optic cable to provide 200 unserved locations with broadband internet access.
Southwest Hendry County ($1,190,000) — to add 3 miles of fiber optic cable to provide 200 unserved locations with broadband internet access.
Southwest Hendry County ($1,190,000) — to add 3 miles of fiber optic cable to provide 200 unserved locations with broadband internet access.
Southwest Hendry County ($1,190,000) — to add 3 miles of fiber optic cable to provide 200 unserved locations with broadband internet access.
Southwest Hendry County ($1,190,000) — to add 3 miles of fiber optic cable to provide 200 unserved locations with broadband internet access.
Southwest Hendry County ($1,190,000) — to add 3 miles of fiber optic cable to provide 200 unserved locations with broadband internet access.
Southwest Hendry County ($1,190,000) — to add 3 miles of fiber optic cable to provide 200 unserved locations with broadband internet access.
The Broadband Opportunity Program is a critical investment in Florida’s future, helping to connect communities and provide access to vital services and opportunities. With these latest awards, Governor DeSantis and the DEO are making significant progress in expanding broadband internet access across Florida, ensuring that even the state’s most rural and underserved areas have the tools they need to succeed in the 21st century economy.
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