Florida Construction News staff writer
More than $22 million was awarded for eight broadband Internet expansion projects that will impact more than 33,200 unserved residential, educational, business and community locations.
“Investing in reliable internet infrastructure strengthens local economies and opens up new opportunities for students, businesses and families,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “I am happy to award this $22 million to support Florida’s small and rural communities and I look forward to making more awards in the future that expand internet access to all Floridians.”
In February, DeSantis announced more than $166 million across 47 counties.
“Through programs like the Broadband Opportunity Program, Florida is helping unserved local communities expand broadband Internet access, making it easier for their residents and business community to connect, collaborate and learn,” said department of economic opportunity acting secretary Meredith Ivey.
The following projects will be awarded through the Broadband Opportunity Program:
- City of Live Oak – $5 million to add 821 miles of fiber optic cable to their existing network to provide 21,492 unserved locations within Suwannee County with symmetrical download and upload speeds of 1 gigabits per second (GB).
- City of Madison and Town of Lee – $5 million to add 759 miles of fiber optic cable to their existing network to provide 1,835 unserved locations within Madison County with symmetrical download and upload speeds of 1GB.
- Cities of Monticello and Perry; Unincorporated Lamont and Wacissa – $5 million to add 946 miles of fiber optic cable to their existing network to provide 2,528 unserved locations within Jefferson, Madison and Taylor counties with symmetrical download and upload speeds of 1GB.
- Unincorporated Allentown and Wallace; Chumukla and Pace – $3.4 million to add 357 miles of fiber optic cable to their existing network to provide 2,355 unserved locations within Santa Rosa County with symmetrical download and upload speeds of 1GB.
- City of Plant City; Unincorporated Balm, Keysville, Lithia and Wimauma – $906,000 to add 122.8 miles of fiber optic cable to their existing network to provide 1,792 unserved locations within Hillsborough County with symmetrical download and upload speeds of 1GB.
- City of Laurel Hill, Unincorporated Deerland and Svea, and Unincorporated Okaloosa County – $853,000 to add 103.5 miles of fiber optic cable to their existing network to provide 831 unserved locations within Okaloosa County with symmetrical download and upload speeds of 1GB.
- City of San Antonio, Land O Lakes and Shady Hills, and Unincorporated Pasco County – $2 million to add 171.1 miles of fiber optic cable to their existing network to provide 1,545 unserved locations within Pasco County with symmetrical download and upload speeds of 1GB.
- City of Dade City, Crystal Springs, Dade City North, Lacoochee, Richland, Zephyrhills North, Zephyrhills South, and Unincorporated Pasco County – $578,531 to add 171.4 miles of fiber optic cable to their existing network to provide 911 unserved locations within Pasco County with symmetrical download and upload speeds of 1GB.