FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

November 29, 2022

News Media Contact:

• NTIA, Office of Public Affairs, (202) 482-7002, press@ntia.gov

WASHINGTON – The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced that Florida received its first “Internet for All” grants for deploying high-speed Internet networks and developing digital skills training programs under the Biden-Harris Administration’s Internet for All initiative. Florida is receiving $7,407,200.56 in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, signed by President Biden, to plan for the deployment and adoption of affordable, equitable, and reliable high-speed Internet service throughout the state.

"These new funds increase deployment of high-speed Internet service infrastructure and will promote economic growth, expand educational opportunities, and provide access to telehealth services for all Floridians," said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. "I commend Governor DeSantis for his commitment to the Internet for All initiative and ensuring we close the digital divide in Florida."

All 50 U.S. states and six territories applied for planning grant funding for the Internet for All initiative's Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program and the Digital Equity Act program. Grant awards for all 56 eligible entities will be announced on a rolling basis. 

About Florida’s Planning Grants

Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program

The BEAD Program provides $42.45 billion to expand high-speed Internet service access by funding planning, infrastructure deployment and adoption programs.

Florida will receive $4,999,976.99 to fund various activities including:

• Identification of unserved and underserved locations;
• Creation of a five-year action plan;
• Capacity-building and employee training of the Florida's broadband office;
• Asset mapping across Florida to catalog high-speed Internet service adoption, affordability, equity, access and deployment;
• Surveys of unserved, underserved and underrepresented communities to better understand barriers to high-speed Internet service adoption;
• Conducting research from the established Local Technology Planning Teams into a comprehensive list.

Digital Equity

The Digital Equity Act provides $2.75 billion to establish three grant programs to ensure that all people and communities have the skills, technology, and capacity needed to reap the full benefits of our digital economy. The first part of NTIA’s execution of the Digital Equity Act is to fund digital equity planning efforts.

Florida will receive $2,407,223.57 to fund various activities including:

• Creation of a digital equity plan for Florida;
• Outreach to underrepresented communities;
• Conducting a needs assessment.

Internet for All

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes a historic $65 billion investment to expand affordable and reliable high-speed Internet access in communities across the U.S. NTIA recently launched a series of new high-speed Internet grant programs funded by the law that will build high-speed Internet infrastructure across the country, create more low-cost high-speed Internet service options, and address the digital equity and inclusion needs in our communities.

Additionally, the Federal Communications Commission’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward Internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Visit AffordableConnectivity.gov to learn more.

For more information on the Biden-Harris Administration’s high-speed Internet service programs, please visit InternetforAll.gov.