Good morning – The Dept of Economic Opportunity will open the application window for funds from the Broadband Opportunity Program on November2. Please see below for more detailed information. Michelle Hershel Director of Regulatory Affairs Florida Electric Cooperatives Assoc. 2916 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, FL 32301 Cell: (850) 510-1693 (850)877-6166, ext. 3 NOTE: This e-mail is intended solely for the use of the individual(s) to whom it is addressed. The contents of this email and any attachments are confidential. If you believe you received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender immediately, delete the e-mail from your computer and do not copy or disclose it to anyone else. If you properly received this e-mail you should maintain its contents in confidence. From: DEO Communications <deo.info@deo.myflorida.com> Sent: Tuesday, October 11, 2022 4:04 PM To: Michelle Hershel <mhershel@feca.com> Subject: The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Will Open Application Window for Broadband Opportunity Program on November 2 To view this email as a web page, go here.<https://view.communications.deo.myflorida.com/?qs=d7dd61709d75adcbcc6fbecd8b5992f095f8a90dea58117cd5e7ea00946328617b1f7a57fcb2b6115261218d1f7841d0c5335a0edbd16ed18108a5558525d42e2c33e3e9cb468704> [https://image.s12.sfmc-content.com/lib/fe3611737164047c7d1672/m/1/a965442b-781f-4202-914b-082033bcb8de.png] The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Will Open Application Window for Broadband Opportunity Program on November 2 Dear Broadband Stakeholders, The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) is preparing to open the application window for the Broadband Opportunity Program, a $400 million grant program created to expand broadband Internet service in unserved areas of the state. On September 28, 2022, DEO’s Office of Broadband submitted its notice of proposed rulemaking to the Florida Administrative Register and commenced the 30-day online posting of application and scoring materials required in Section 288.9962, F.S., on www.FloridaJobs.org/Broadband<https://click.communications.deo.myflorida.com/?qs=8fda8903b88e067d60be6b26ae5c288a74797098b1b8cca8153ba36ccc438d691152993d29a2fb5cff7313c1c87c0c9cbee9a33da4b282a9>. Beginning on November 2, 2022, the 30-day application window for the Broadband Opportunity Program will open. The last day to submit a grant application will be at 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST) on December 2, 2022. The Broadband Opportunity Program funds the installation and deployment of broadband Internet infrastructure in unserved Florida communities, providing valuable telehealth, economic, educational, and workforce development opportunities to offer a brighter future for all Floridians. Eligible applicants for the program Broadband Opportunity Program include corporations, limited liability companies, general partnerships, and limited partnerships that are organized under the laws of this state or otherwise authorized to transact business in this state, political subdivisions, and Indian Tribes. DEO’s Office of Broadband will host two technical assistance webinars for the Broadband Opportunity Program ahead of the application window opening on November 2nd: · The Statewide Technical Assistance Webinar will be held on Thursday, October 20, 2022, from 10:00a.m. – 12:00p.m., EST. · The Rural Technical Assistance Webinar will be held on Tuesday, November 1, 2022, from 10:00a.m. – 12:00p.m., EST. The technical assistance webinars will provide information on the timeline, scoring criteria, and funding and eligibility requirements for the program, and will assist prospective applicants in developing applications for funding. DEO staff are available to provide support throughout the application process. Applicants are strongly encouraged to attend all scheduled webinars and trainings provided by DEO. Applicants can find current information about the Broadband Opportunity Program www.FloridaJobs.org/Broadband<https://click.communications.deo.myflorida.com/?qs=8fda8903b88e067d60be6b26ae5c288a74797098b1b8cca8153ba36ccc438d691152993d29a2fb5cff7313c1c87c0c9cbee9a33da4b282a9> . Questions regarding the program should be sent to Broadband@DEO.MyFlorida.com<mailto:Broadband@DEO.MyFlorida.com>. For additional information about the Office of Broadband, or to view the Broadband Opportunity Program’s draft rule<https://click.communications.deo.myflorida.com/?qs=8fda8903b88e067dc504b4714aff6ee186dbd2ae2fa320728350bf96a497f06a03d87946ec512eaa07f3d815f3c6d3c54d8f418ad83d4f82> , application, and scoring criteria, visit www.FloridaJobs.org/Broadband<https://click.communications.deo.myflorida.com/?qs=8fda8903b88e067d60be6b26ae5c288a74797098b1b8cca8153ba36ccc438d691152993d29a2fb5cff7313c1c87c0c9cbee9a33da4b282a9> . Here is a summary of the key milestones the Office of Broadband has achieved to open the application cycle on November 2nd. * In July 2020, the Florida Office of Broadband was established within the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity's (DEO) Division of Community Development to increase the availability and effectiveness of broadband internet throughout the state. The amendment of Section 288.9961, Florida Statutes, and creation of Sections 288.9962 and 288.9963, Florida Statutes, provides DEO access to federal grant dollars and assists rural communities with the expansion of broadband services, as well as provides directives for broadband mapping and the Broadband Opportunity Program. * During Florida’s 2021 Legislative session, House Bill 1239 passed and provided an allocation of $1.5 million to develop geographic information system (GIS) maps of Florida’s currently availability of broadband internet service. * In January and February 2021, DEO partnered with the Florida Regional Councils Association to host 10 virtual workshops where participants discussed broadband internet accessibility. Industry sector and community leaders within each region were invited to participate. These industry sectors included education, healthcare, private business, community organizations, agriculture, tourism, parks and recreation, economic development, local governments and internet service providers. * In September 2021, DEO launched the Local Technology Planning Team initiative was launched using the Broadband Planning Toolkit developed by the Office of Broadband. Local Technology Planning Teams are tasked with working within their communities to understand their current broadband availability, locate unserved and underserved businesses and residents, identify assets relevant to broadband deployment, build partnerships with broadband service providers, and identify opportunities to leverage assets and reduce barriers to the deployment of broadband Internet services in the community. * In December 2021, DEO published Florida’s Broadband Availability Map to identify where broadband-capable networks exist; where service is available to end users, gaps in rural areas, and download and upload speeds. DEO continues to collect data from Floridians on their availability and accessibility of broadband Internet to be added to the map through its Broadband Internet Speed Test. * In June 2022, DEO published the Faster Florida Broadband Map, which identifies census blocks as unserved, underserved, served, and no fixed internet service as defined in Section 288.9961, Florida Statutes. The map also identifies Florida geographic boundaries, community anchor institutions, grant funding opportunities, and information on the speed tests taken through the Florida Broadband Availability Map. * In June 2022, DEO submitted the Florida Strategic Plan for Broadband to the Governor, the Speaker of the House, and the President of the Senate. The Florida Strategic Plan for Broadband lays out the vision of the Office of Broadband, the roles for state and local participants, and the strategies to undertake as Florida works toward a fully connected citizenry, both economically and socially. * In August 2022, DEO hosted three regional workshops (Bartow in Polk County on August 22, Milton in Santa Rosa County on August 25, and Moore Haven in Glades County on August 29, 2022) to receive community input on rulemaking for the implementation of the $400 million Broadband Opportunity Program. * On September 28, 2022, DEO's Office of Broadband submitted its notice of proposed rulemaking to the Florida Administrative Register and commenced the 30-day online posting of application and scoring materials required in Section 288.9962 on www.FloridaJobs.org/Broadband<https://click.communications.deo.myflorida.com/?qs=6e85801dea56772c8a25d2ab9a54bdc6612105948360070bab04fe6341929331f7043aeddfada8b2633a624ebe2081980a3d03a95fc9b7d1>. About DEO The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity combines the state’s economic, workforce, and community development efforts, expediting economic development projects to fuel job creation in competitive communities and promote economic resiliency. For more information, including valuable resources for employers and job seekers, please visit www.FloridaJobs.org<https://click.communications.deo.myflorida.com/?qs=6e85801dea56772cae18f5bf260b9363efd2348ba36a8ff5b8e3397fdb78f20b422e66daef099b01645dd541162d9cfcd9a7aa3f581d9773>. ### [Facebook]<https://click.communications.deo.myflorida.com/?qs=6e85801dea56772c66dbfe4e53bda285d70d71b95a480f5782c82eeb88780d3369118f68d99656b3ea0b7fcb18ef6708634386fdd49e2641> [Twitter]<https://click.communications.deo.myflorida.com/?qs=6e85801dea56772ce69d3042d885fa441111baba04b362c196a16a5b9f7f4c52dc40b6ea9bb8aadccac1ee0967d074b5e04b19ea658f2dc3> [LinkedIn]<https://click.communications.deo.myflorida.com/?qs=6e85801dea56772c0e706ac85ba803f107f19b0268a859827799c9ba24139687604e6087d0e46582b8088d1986c137ff1a5f6855d929b349> [YouTube]<https://click.communications.deo.myflorida.com/?qs=6e85801dea56772c990e4a069d0101d8d4772068b6e87581bee94083212d951609d14393606c708fd027b221790964d3eb442d2fc6debef1> To stop receiving these emails, unsubscribe here<https://click.communications.deo.myflorida.com/unsub_center.aspx?qs=858fc2d72be7155c8b5d8edec7a8648b53b6a31133df58fb4aa5bd7bab59f26b97dc360d932372b01465b4adb5be1a53816520a58d166fbf8dca0e239b88a4da> Florida Department of Economic Opportunity respects your privacy. 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