FAC BROADBAND SNAPSHOT

Click here for the FAC Broadband Snapshot (June 2022). The Broadband Snapshot provides a high-level view of all things broadband in Florida with insights into the timeline for state and federal grant programs and agencies involved in closing the Digital Divide.  

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY

Office of Broadband

The Office of Broadband works with local and state government agencies, community organizations and private businesses to increase the availability and effectiveness of broadband internet throughout the state, specifically in small and rural communities. Through these partnerships, the Office encourages investment in grant funding opportunities for the broadband program that focus on the expansion of broadband.

To learn more please visit the DEO Office of Broadband website.

The Florida Strategic Plan

Faster Florida Broadband Map

Local Technology Planning Teams

 

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES

National Broadband Taskforce

The NACo task force will examine the intersection of public, private and non-profit sector efforts to deploy and sustain advanced, affordable and accessible broadband and other communication technology solutions with the aim of eliminating the digital divide.

Two Florida County Commissioners were selected to participate on the taskforce:

  • Terry Burroughs, Commissioner, Okeechobee County, Fla. 
  • Gregg Weiss, Commissioner, Palm Beach County, Fla. 

IIJA Broadband Guidance

 
 
To learn more about the taskforce please visit the NACo website.
 

SMALL COUNTY COALITION OF FLORIDA

The small Coalition of Florida is a valued partner of the Florida Association of Counties.  The Coalition has identified affordable access to reliable broadband internet as a priority.  In 2020, the Coalition adopted the Florida Broadband Initiative as an effort to urge support for achieving the goal of providing access to reliable, affordable, high-speed internet service to every household and business throughout the State of Florida.  The document underscores the imperative of moving forward with a collaborative strategic plan that addresses the internet access needs of the public, supports the ability of the private sector to provide expanded internet services, and engage governmental entities at the Federal, State and Local level.    

 

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 

The Federal Communications Commission regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories. An independent U.S. government agency overseen by Congress, the commission is the United States’ primary authority for communications law, regulation and technological innovation.  

  • This map provides a visualization of the residential fixed broadband deployment data collected on FCC Form 477.

 

NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION (NTIA)

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), located within the Department of Commerce, is the Executive Branch agency that is principally responsible by law for advising the President on telecommunications and information policy issues. NTIA’s programs and policymaking focus largely on expanding broadband Internet access and adoption in America, expanding the use of spectrum by all users, and ensuring that the Internet remains an engine for continued innovation and economic growth. 

                – This latest mapping project, released on June 18th 2021, links poverty and broadband access by comparing private and public data to show the relationship between internet usage patterns. This tool contains data aggregated at the county, census tract, and census block level from the U.S. Census Bureau, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), M-Lab, Ookla and Microsoft.

                – Compiling data sets to show where high-poverty communities are located with relation to internet usage patterns and access to the computers and related equipment.  

                – Updated May 28th,

2021