Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced on Wednesday the expansion of broadband in the rural areas across the state using the $400 million he secured last year.
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the $144 million for broadband expansion. (Photo: FL VOICE)
Ron DeSantis to Expand Broadband in Rural Areas
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis allocated millions of state funds to expand broadband in rural areas across the state. On Wednesday, he emphasized that the budget has increased since he first took office as governor in 2019 and the state’s surplus has already reached $15.7 billion.
In a published article in Yahoo News, Gov. DeSantis said, “One of the aspects of infrastructure we’ve embraced is the need to make sure, and it’s not actually just rural but it’s largely that, but there’s very populated counties that also have gaps, is making sure we’re expanding access for broadband.”
He also added, “To make sure that all communities have access to high-speed internet, it’s just important for how our society functions. We were able to secure $400 million last year to expand broadband access across the state of Florida. So today, we are here to issue our first awards for broadband expansion in the state of Florida.”
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$144 Million in Broadband Access Grants
According to a report published in FL Voice, an amount of $144 million will be awarded to 41 counties and 58 projects across Florida. He also emphasized the importance of broadband for economic development and education but warned that some use of it was unhealthy.
DeSantis said, “These kids, if they’re on their phones during class, you know texting, they’re not going to be learning. So what you should do is leave your phone in like a cubby, sit in class, grab the phone, you can use it during recess or something. But being buried in that thing all during the day is healthy. And I think it’s going to be a continued battle with young people.”
Needless to say, DeSantis mentioned the different special sessions made to ensure the budget for the expansion of broadband. It included the session in December when the budget was approved.
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