• 2022 Policy Development—2 policy statements remaining 
  • BROADBAND-PP-03: STATE DIGITAL EQUITY GRANTS  
  • PROPOSED POLICY: FAC SUPPORTS funding for State Digital Equity grants to include digital navigator programs at the local level.  
  • BROADBAND-PP-04: STATUTORY REVISIONS TO THE BROADBAND OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM  
  • PROPOSED POLICY: FAC SUPPORTS the following statutory revisions to the state broadband grant program, Broadband Opportunity Program:   
  • Removal of the Federal funding prohibition  
  • Inclusion of waiver of match & rural considerations in grant review  
  • Removal of challenge processes that result in grant blocks  
  • Inclusion requirements for local involvement & strategic plan alignment  
  • Clarifying definitions to align grant final rule & statute   

 

  • 2021 Policy Development 
  • In 2021, the following Guiding Principles were added to the Finance, Tax, and Administration Guiding Principles:  
  • ACCESS 67 is an initiative of the Florida Association of Counties (FAC) to implement a comprehensive approach to empowering our members to develop solutions to address the impacts of the lack of ACCESS to critical telecommunication and information technology resources in Florida communities. FAC recognizes that this lack of ACCESS impacts small, medium and large counties, as well as, Florida’s rural and urban communities. Additionally, the lack of ACCESS impacts multiple policy areas that FAC’s members are responsible for in the governance of their local communities to include, but are not limited to, public safety, healthcare, economic development and education.  
  • FTA20.  
  • The Florida Association of Counties support increased efforts to promote access to broadband, including competition and innovation in the marketplace, as well as provide resources to support accessibility, speed, and affordability of broadband in Florida.  
  • FTA 21. 
  • The Florida Association of Counties support improving service mapping accurately by requiring more granular data from service providers, allowing crowd sourced data to be used to inform the map, and creating an appeal process to challenge demonstrable inaccuracies.  

 

  • 2020 Broadband Legislation:  
  • Ch. 2020-26, L.O.F. (HB 969 by Rep. Ausley and Rep. Drake) 
  • The bill designates the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) as the lead state agency to facilitate the expansion of broadband Internet service in the state. It creates the Florida Office of Broadband (Office) within DEO’s Division of Community Development for purposes of developing, marketing, and promoting broadband Internet service in the state.  
  • The bill authorizes DEO to apply for and accept federal grant funds, enter into necessary or useful contracts, and establish any committee or workgroup to administer the program. 
  • The bill transfers to the new office most of the powers and duties previously given to DMS. Specifically, the Office must:  
  • Create a strategic plan for increasing the use of broadband Internet service in the state;  
  • Build local technology planning teams representing, among others, libraries, schools, colleges and universities, local health care providers, private businesses, community organizations, economic development organizations, local governments, tourism, parks and recreation, and agriculture;  
  • Encourage the use of broadband Internet service, especially in rural, unserved, and underserved areas of the state through grant programs.  
  • Monitor, participate in, and provide input in proceedings of the Federal Communications Commission and other federal agencies related to the geographic availability and deployment of broadband Internet service in Florida.