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The Florida Senate

2011 Florida Statutes

Title XXVII RAILROADS AND OTHER REGULATED UTILITIES
Chapter 364 TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANIES Entire Chapter
SECTION 0135
Promotion of broadband adoption.
F.S. 364.0135
364.0135 Promotion of broadband adoption.—
(1) The Legislature finds that the sustainable adoption of broadband Internet service is critical to the economic and business development of the state and is beneficial for libraries, schools, colleges and universities, health care providers, and community organizations. The term “sustainable adoption” means the ability for communications service providers to offer broadband services in all areas of the state by encouraging adoption and utilization levels that allow for these services to be offered in the free market absent the need for governmental subsidy.
(2) The Department of Management Services is authorized to work collaboratively with, and to receive staffing support and other resources from, Enterprise Florida, Inc., state agencies, local governments, private businesses, and community organizations to:
(a) Monitor the adoption of broadband Internet service in collaboration with communications service providers, including, but not limited to, wireless and wireline Internet service providers, to develop geographical information system maps at the census tract level that will:
1. Identify geographic gaps in broadband services, including areas unserved by any broadband provider and areas served by a single broadband provider;
2. Identify the download and upload transmission speeds made available to businesses and individuals in the state, at the census tract level of detail, using data rate benchmarks for broadband service used by the Federal Communications Commission to reflect different speed tiers; and
3. Provide a baseline assessment of statewide broadband deployment in terms of percentage of households with broadband availability.
(b) Create a strategic plan that has goals and strategies for increasing the use of broadband Internet service in the state.
(c) Build and facilitate local technology planning teams or partnerships with members representing cross-sections of the community, which may include, but are not limited to, representatives from the following organizations and industries: libraries, K-12 education, colleges and universities, local health care providers, private businesses, community organizations, economic development organizations, local governments, tourism, parks and recreation, and agriculture.
(d) Encourage the use of broadband Internet service, especially in the rural, unserved, and underserved communities of the state through grant programs having effective strategies to facilitate the statewide deployment of broadband Internet service. For any grants to be awarded, priority must be given to projects that:
1. Provide access to broadband education, awareness, training, access, equipment, and support to libraries, schools, colleges and universities, health care providers, and community support organizations.
2. Encourage the sustainable adoption of broadband in primarily unserved areas by removing barriers to entry.
3. Work toward encouraging investments in establishing affordable and sustainable broadband Internet service in unserved areas of the state.
4. Facilitate the development of applications, programs, and services, including, but not limited to, telework, telemedicine, and e-learning to increase the usage of, and demand for, broadband Internet service in the state.
(3) The department may apply for and accept federal funds for purposes of this section, as well as gifts and donations from individuals, foundations, and private organizations.
(4) The department may enter into contracts necessary or useful to carry out the purposes of this section.
(5) The department may establish any committee or workgroup to administer and carry out the purposes of this section.
(6) The department may adopt rules necessary to carry out the purposes of this section. Any rule, contract, grant, or other activity undertaken by the department shall ensure that all entities are in compliance with any applicable federal or state laws, rules, and regulations, including, but not limited to, those applicable to private entities providing communications services for hire and the requirements of s. 350.81.
History.—s. 2, ch. 2009-226; s. 5, ch. 2011-36.