Broadband Office Name: FloridaCommerce Office of Broadband
BEAD Award Amount: $1.17 B
Florida Broadband Director: Leandro Garcia
Website: https://floridajobs.org/community-planning-and-development/broadband/office-of-broadband
Florida BEAD Program Tracker
| State | IP Vol 1 Approval | IP Vol 2 Approval | Challenge Process Submission Started | Challenge Process Submission Running | Challenge Process Final Determination Phase Completed | 1-Year Subgrantee Selection Process |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | N/A |
Florida BEAD Program Information
Key Updates
On June 1, 2024, Florida initiated the BEAD Challenge Process. This process will run for 45 days. During this period, stakeholders can submit challenges to the state’s broadband coverage data to ensure its accuracy and address any discrepancies.
Following the challenge window, there will be a 7-day processing buffer from July 16 to July 22, allowing the Florida Broadband Office to organize and process the submitted challenges.
After this buffer, the Challenge Rebuttal & Determinations window will begin on July 23, during which the Florida Broadband Office will review rebuttals and make final determinations on the challenges.
Florida BEAD Program Plans & Maps
Florida BEAD Program Initial Proposal Volume 2: Overview
*Information is subject to change. Florida is awaiting official approval of Initial Proposal Volume 2 from the NTIA.
BEAD Long-Term Objectives
Approximately 406,000 locations in Florida still lack high-speed, reliable internet. Additionally, nearly a quarter of the state’s population does not use the internet, and about 40% do not use a digital device. To address these challenges, Florida has outlined several key objectives and strategies:
- Target Deployment to Unserved/Underserved Areas: Develop quality data to inform deployment planning, ensuring resources are directed to areas most in need.
- Attract Providers to Deploy: Operate a grant program and broadband planning process to encourage providers to expand their services.
- Develop a Training Workforce: Promote training resources and programs to build a skilled workforce capable of supporting broadband expansion and maintenance.
- Expand Availability of Public WiFi: Support Community Anchor Institutions (CAIs) with high-speed internet to increase public WiFi availability.
- Encourage Participation in Affordable Internet Plans: Coordinate with Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to promote low-cost internet offerings to increase adoption rates.
- Equip Communities to Manage Emergencies: Assess broadband technologies to enhance county-level emergency response capabilities.
- Develop New Digital Literacy Programs: Promote awareness of digital skills and cybersecurity courses to improve digital literacy across the state.
- Increase Device Use/Ownership: Assess the device ownership of covered populations to identify gaps and increase access to digital devices.
- Expand Availability of Digital Navigators: Leverage local trusted partners and organizations to expand awareness and use of digital navigation services, helping more people access and effectively use the internet.
Florida BEAD Program Project Area Design
To enhance the attractiveness of broadband deployment projects for potential applicants, Florida will bundle unserved and underserved locations into packages available for bid. These project areas are designed to optimize return on investment (ROI) potential, making them more appealing to service providers.
The Florida Broadband Office anticipates leveraging existing geographic boundaries, such as census block groups, zip codes, or school districts, to define these project areas. By utilizing these familiar and well-defined boundaries, the Office aims to streamline the bidding process and ensure efficient and effective deployment of high-speed internet services to areas in need.
Florida BEAD Program Extremely High Cost Threshold
After receiving applications, the Florida Broadband Office will develop the Efficient High-Cost Threshold (EHC) to determine funding allocations for broadband projects. The EHC is a crucial tool in ensuring that projects are both cost-effective and comprehensive.
To develop and define the EHC, the Florida Broadband Office plans to collect information from the following sources:
- Project Costs from Previous Broadband Grant Projects: Including data from the Capital Projects Fund (CPF).
- Costing Models Provided: Utilizing established models to estimate expenses.
- Details from the Applications: Gathering specific information from the submitted applications.
Florida anticipates that many BEAD-eligible locations will require line extensions to become serviceable, which will increase the costs of providing broadband access. Therefore, the EHC will be set to:
- Support End-to-End Fiber Projects: Ensure that as many fiber projects as possible can be deployed.
- Accommodate High-Cost Applications: Allow for well-designed applications that have higher costs due to necessary line extensions, ensuring they remain competitive for available funding despite their higher build costs.
BEAD Deployment Subgrantee Selection
The Florida Broadband Office is asking for the following preregistration evidence from subgrantees and compliance with: Financial capability, managerial capability, operational capability, technical capability, ownership info, public funding info, compliance with laws, cybersecurity/supply chain compliance, and BABA/EHP/NEPA/NHPA compliance.
Primary Scoring Criteria for Priority Broadband Projects
- 200 pts – Minimal BEAD Outlay
- 60 pts – Affordability
- 40 pts – Labor Standards
Secondary Scoring Criteria
- 20 pts – Speed to Deployment
- 20 pts – Meeting Prior Federal Commitments
- 20 pts – Workforce Development and Job Quality
- 20 pts – Local and Tribal Coordination
- 20 pts – Open Access
Primary Scoring Criteria for Non-Priority Broadband Projects
- 260 pts – Minimal BEAD Outlay
- 60 pts – Affordability
- 40 pts – Labor Standards
Secondary Scoring Criteria
- 20 pts – Speed to Deployment
- 20 pts – Meeting Prior Federal Commitments
- 20 pts – Workforce Development and Job Quality
- 20 pts – Local and Tribal Coordination
- 20 pts – Open Access
- 20 pts – Speed of Network and other Technical Capabilities
BEAD Non-Deployment Subgrantee Selection
After connecting all remaining locations, Florida anticipates having approximately $200 million in BEAD funding available for further initiatives. The selection process for these non-deployment activities will prioritize training, developing, and upskilling Florida’s broadband-related workforce.
Workforce Initiatives to Be Funded:
- Support Services: Providing resources and assistance to help individuals succeed in broadband-related careers.
- Apprenticeship Programs: Offering hands-on training and work experience in the broadband industry.
- Training/Formal Degree Offerings: Developing and supporting educational programs that provide formal training and degrees in broadband and related fields.
- Pathway Programs: Creating pathways to broadband-related careers, including internships, mentorships, and job placement services.
- Marketing Initiatives: Promoting broadband career opportunities and workforce programs to attract participants and partners.
Prioritization Criteria:
- Minimal BEAD Program Funding: Preference will be given to initiatives that require minimal BEAD funding.
- Alignment with Workforce Objectives: Initiatives must align with the broader objectives of developing and supporting a skilled broadband workforce.
- Sustainability of Initiative: Programs that demonstrate long-term sustainability will be prioritized.
- Magnitude of Impact: Initiatives with a significant potential impact on the workforce and broadband expansion will be given preference.
- Partnerships/Collaborations: Programs that involve partnerships and collaborations with other organizations, educational institutions, and industry stakeholders will be prioritized.
BEAD Eligible Entity Implementation
The Florida Broadband Office is committed to effectively managing BEAD subgrants through a series of key oversight and implementation activities. These activities ensure that the program runs smoothly and achieves its goals of expanding broadband access and improving digital literacy across the state.
Key Oversight and Implementation Activities:
- Challenge Process Design and Implementation: Developing and executing a robust challenge process to address and resolve disputes regarding broadband coverage and funding.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Engaging with stakeholders throughout the BEAD Program period to ensure transparency, gather input, and foster collaboration.
- Coordination of Local Technology Planning Teams (LTPTs): Holding monthly and ad-hoc meetings to coordinate efforts and share updates with the 67 county-level LTPTs.
- Subgrantee Selection and Management: Managing the entire subgrant lifecycle, including the selection of subgrantees, awarding of grants, and ongoing management of subgrantee activities.
- Ongoing Monitoring and Data Collection: Conducting continuous monitoring of subgrant activities, collecting relevant data, and updating mapping efforts throughout the BEAD Program period.
- Workforce Initiatives: Implementing initiatives to improve workforce readiness for the BEAD Program, including expanding training and apprenticeship opportunities.
- Coordination with Digital Capacity Grants: Collaborating with digital capacity grants and other initiatives focused on digital adoption and use to maximize the impact of the BEAD Program.
- Administrative and Oversight Functions: Performing various administrative, oversight, and implementation functions necessary for the effective management of BEAD subgrants.
BEAD Local, Tribe, and Regional Broadband Planning Process
The Florida Broadband Office has been actively engaging with local and regional entities, including federally recognized tribes, to support their planning processes and broadband efforts. These engagement efforts include the use of online resources, planning toolkits, in-person and virtual meetings, and extensive information and data sharing.
Key Engagement Efforts:
- Tribal Meetings: The Office has held meetings with leadership from the Seminole Tribe and Miccosukee Tribe of Florida to discuss their specific broadband needs and planning processes.
- Strategic Guidance: The Florida Strategic Plan for Broadband provides guidance on the role of local and regional governments in broadband expansion efforts, helping to coordinate actions and resources.
- Online Resources: The Office of Broadband webpage serves as a centralized hub for news, funding opportunities, planning toolkits, and other valuable resources for stakeholders involved in broadband planning and expansion.
- Communications: The Florida Commerce List is used to communicate the Office’s priorities and goals, ensuring stakeholders are informed and aligned with state-wide broadband initiatives.
- Local Technology Planning Teams (LTPTs): These county-level teams (67 in total) are dedicated to technology and broadband planning for their respective communities, fostering local engagement and tailored solutions.
- Broadband Summit: An in-person event that brought together over 300 stakeholders, including local government officials, community organizations, and other professionals, to discuss broadband expansion and share insights.
- Virtual Workshops: A series of 10 virtual workshops were conducted to discuss broadband internet accessibility, providing a platform for diverse voices and ideas.
- Listening Sessions: The Office held dozens of one-on-one listening sessions focused on the Five-Year Action Plan, ensuring a thorough understanding of the needs and concerns of various stakeholders.
BEAD Labor Standards & Protection
The Florida Broadband Office requires all BEAD subgrantees to submit the following information:
A record of past compliance with federal/employment laws:
- Must address info on deployment projects within the last 3 years.
- Certification form from an Officer/Director level employee of past compliance.
- Written confirmation that subgrantee has disclosed any violations from contractors within the last 3 years.
- Discussion of workforce plan
Plans for ensuring compliance with federal/employment laws:
- How subgrantee will ensure compliance in its labor/employment practices.
- Info on applicable wage scales, wage, and overtime practices for each class of employee expected to be involved in physical construction of the network.
- How subgrantee will ensure implementation of workplace safety committees.
- Comply with the Prevailing Wages Act.
- Other items as outlined in the BEAD NOFO.
BEAD Minority Business Enterprises / Women’s Business Enterprises / Labor Surplus Area Firms Inclusion
The Florida Broadband Office is committed to fostering the inclusion of Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs), Women Business Enterprises (WBEs), and Local Small Agencies (LSAs) in its BEAD Program. To promote their recruitment, the Office may pursue the following strategies:
- Solicitation Lists
- Action: Place qualified small and minority businesses and women’s business enterprises on solicitation lists.
- Details: Encourage eligible businesses to register as Small Disadvantaged Businesses (SDB), WBEs, and MBEs. Utilize a small business agency or local database to obtain a list of MBEs, WBEs, or LSAs for reference when soliciting proposals.
- Solicitation of Potential Sources
- Action: Ensure that small and minority businesses and women’s business enterprises are solicited whenever they are potential sources.
- Details: Advertise opportunities to potential MBEs, WBEs, and LSAs to inform them about available opportunities.
- Division of Requirements
- Action: Divide the total requirements, when feasible, into smaller tasks or quantities to permit maximum participation by small and minority businesses and women’s business enterprises.
- Details: Breaking down larger projects into smaller, more manageable tasks to facilitate broader participation.
- Delivery Schedules
- Action: Establish delivery schedules that encourage participation by small and minority businesses and women’s business enterprises.
- Details: Create flexible delivery schedules that enable these enterprises to participate more easily.
- Use of Support Services
- Action: Use the services and assistance of organizations such as the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA).
- Details: Encourage subgrantees to consult with SBA’s Small Business Development Centers and MBDA’s State-Based Business Centers for support and resources.
- Subgrantee Requirements
- Action: Require subgrantees to take the affirmative steps listed above concerning their subcontractors.
- Details: Accept an MBE, WBE, and LSA recruitment plan along with additional relevant documentation stating a commitment to adhering to MBE, WBE, and LSA utilization.
BEAD Cost & Barrier Reduction
1. Promoting the use of existing infrastructure.
2. Promoting and adapting dig-once policies.
3. Streamlining permitting processes.
4. Streamlining cost-effective access to poles, conduits, and easements.
5. Streamlining rights of way, including the imposition of reasonable access requirements.
BEAD Low-Cost Broadband Service Option
Florida Broadband Office Guidelines for Low-Cost Service
- Pricing: The Florida Broadband Office allows prospective subgrantees to propose their own pricing structure for low-cost services. Once approved, this price-point must be maintained throughout the BEAD program.
- Service Standards: Providers must ensure that all basic service characteristics and future technical upgrade requirements are met.
- No Extra Charges: Low-cost services cannot have data caps, surcharges, or usage-based throttling.
- Program Participation: Subgrantees are required to participate in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) or its successor programs.
- Technical Upgrades: Higher-speed plans can be offered later if they meet the low-cost service criteria.
BEAD Middle-Class Affordability
With a population of 22.2 million, Florida is committed to ensuring affordable broadband access for its residents. To achieve this, the state intends to adopt the following strategies:
- Affordability Scoring: Implement affordability scoring criteria in BEAD subgrantee reviews to prioritize cost-effective options.
- Low-Cost Service Options: Encourage providers to offer low-cost service plans.
- Stakeholder Feedback: Continuously gather feedback from Local Technology Planning Teams (LTPTs) and other stakeholders to refine strategies.
- Rate Analysis: Explore methods to better understand and assess broadband rates across the state to ensure competitive pricing.
