State awards two grants totaling $4.1 million to expand broadband access in Polk County

Florida has awarded two grants for projects to expand broadband access in Polk County.

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office announced the awarding of $60 million for 22 projects statewide through the Broadband Opportunity Program, administered by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. The Broadband Opportunity Program funds the installation and deployment of broadband internet infrastructure in unserved Florida communities, DeSantis’ office said in a news release.

Expanding broadbandDrawing upon Florida Poly study, Polk County seeks grants

State budgetPolk receives plenty for education, roads, water projects and more

A grant of $1.8 million will go to the cities of Frostproof, Haines City, Lake Alfred, Lake Wales, Lakeland and Polk City, along with the unincorporated community of Indian Lakes Estates and areas of unincorporated Polk County. The project is intended to add 204 miles of fiber optic cable to provide 2,440 unserved locations with symmetrical download and upload speeds of 1 GB, the release said.

A grant of more than $2.3 million goes to Bartow, Fort Meade, Frostproof and Mulberry; the towns of Bradley and Brewster; the unincorporated community of Homeland and unincorporated areas of Polk County. The project aims to add 103 miles of fiber optic cable to provide 853 unserved locations within Polk County, the release said.

The Florida Legislature appropriated $400 million in federally funded State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds for the Broadband Opportunity Program.