Broadband workshop July 13
A broadband workshop will be held at the Santa Rosa County Extension Office, 6263 Dogwood Drive in Milton, from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. on Thurs., July 13. This meeting is open to the public.
Kyle Holley, community development liaison, will cover topics that include:
- The formation of the State Office of Broadband
- Funding programs offered by the state for broadband improvements
- The state's speed test which is used by the state to validate grant requests
The Department of Economic Opportunity has developed Florida’s Broadband Availability Map and internet speed test to identify and assist in gathering more data about the state’s broadband internet service availability. Find both the map and speed test at www.FloridaJobs.org/Broadband or take the speed test now online. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has rolled out a national broadband map, view the map at broadbandmap.fcc.gov/home.
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Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Virtual Webinars July 14, 24 and 26
Information provided by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity is holding a series of public webinars to hear directly from Floridians about barriers to accessing broadband Internet service. The meetings and webinars will focus on discussing our goal to ensure all Florida communities can easily access Internet service, online devices, and digital skills training.
These sessions will help inform Florida’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Five-Year Action Plan and Digital Adoption and Use Plan.
Virtual Workshop #1
Virtual Workshop #2
Virtual Workshop #3
- Date: Wednesday, July 26, 2023
- Time: 1 - 2:30 p.m. CDT
- Register Here
For questions, please call 850-717-8445 or email Broadband@DEO.myflorida.com.
Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD)
The BEAD Program provides federal funding for grants to states for broadband planning, deployment, mapping, equity, and adoption activities. The BEAD Program, part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), allocates a minimum of $100 million for states to expand broadband infrastructure and connectivity programs. On July 12, 2022, the Office submitted a letter of intent to participate in the BEAD program through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). On August 15, 2022, the Office submitted the program proposal, Prosperity Through a Connected Florida. DEO's Office of Broadband was awarded $5 million for an Initial Planning Grant to create the 5-year action plan for the submitted proposal.
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