POLK COUNTY BROADBAND PLAN
and the skills to utilize it, if they choose.
5. Polk County will have the fastest, most affordable, and most accessible mobile networks possible.
6. 205,000 households (79% of households) in Polk County will have affordable access to actual download
speeds of at least 100 megabits per second and actual upload speeds of at least 50 megabits per second.
The following strategies were identified for achieving the goals:
1. Co-location: Advocate for communication, cooperation, and partnerships between utility providers,
municipalities, transportation planning organizations and broadband providers; allowing resources,
easements, rights-of-way and infrastructure to be shared when expanding or upgrading services to Anchor
Institutions.
2. Competition: Increase affordability and improve services to Anchor Institutions by encouraging and
advocating for robust broadband marketplace competition, including Next Generation Networks, Florida
LambdaRail, and municipal fiber enterprises.
3. Anchor Institution Funding Sources: Ensure that Anchor Institutions are aware of, and utilizing, all available
funding sources, including but not limited to e-rate programs, grants, tax incentives, and private financing.
4. Neighborhood Broadband Centers: Eliminate gaps in service, equity, and affordability by establishing
broadband access points in community centers, churches, shopping centers, parks, schools, and other
community-based organizations. Provide public-access computers where possible and increase capacity
where such facilities already exist, such as in libraries.
5. Wi-Fi Zones: Encourage local municipalities and counties to provide public Wi-Fi, especially in central
business districts and dense neighborhoods.
6. Technical Literacy and Training: Encourage providers and industry experts to conduct a variety of workshops
and training exercises, ranging from basic computer skills to more advanced applications of broadband
technology.
7. Residential Funding Sources: Encourage local governments and organizations such as CRAs and
neighborhood groups to undertake projects that increase broadband availability, taking advantage of
funding opportunities such as grants, tax incentives, and public-private partnerships.
8. Broadband Audits: Encourage annual evaluations of Anchor Institutions by broadband providers and/or
industry experts to identify methods to increase efficiency and maximize resources.
9. Employee Suggestion Programs: Encourage Anchor Institutions to establish programs to reward employees
who submit new ideas for utilizing broadband services efficiently, effectively, and for the benefit of Polk
County businesses and residents.
10. Attract Broadband Intensive Industries: Partner with local municipalities, universities, and economic
development agencies to attract high-tech industries, including research and development facilities that
require very high capacity broadband infrastructure.
11. Public-Private Partnerships: Develop partnerships, programs, and incentives to provide broadband services
to small towns and rural communities.
12. Non-Residential Funding Sources: Encourage business associations, downtown redevelopment agencies,
and other business-related organizations to undertake projects that increase broadband availability, taking
advantage of funding opportunities such as grants, tax incentives, and public-private partnerships.
13. Increase Demand: Increase public awareness of mobile broadband technology and applications through
public service announcements, educational/training programs, technology fairs/conferences, and fostering
a cultural change to maximize mobile broadband services at the local level.
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