Executive Summary
14. Decrease Obstacles: Revise local regulations to eliminate potentially unnecessary restrictions or obstacles
to installing services and infrastructure. Advocate at the State and Federal level for favorable regulations
for the development of mobile systems, including the availability of spectrum.
15. Development Policy: Facilitate “fiber-to-the-home” infrastructure within new residential communities
through the development and adoption of broadband infrastructure policies within the county and
municipal comprehensive plans and/or land use and zoning codes.
16. Share and Communicate Ideas: Partner with broadband providers to share goals, assets, strategies, and
obstacles.
17. Local Government Broadband Enterprises: Encourage local municipalities and counties with fiber or other
broadband infrastructure to enter the broadband marketplace.
18. Telecommuting/Work-At-Home Policies: Increase residential demand by encouraging employers to adopt
strategies and policies allowing employees the opportunity to telecommute.
The following action items were identified:
1. Develop and maintain a Broadband Polk website to serve as the central hub for information sharing,
communication, cooperation, and partnerships.
2. Identify all Anchor Institutions in Polk County that do not have 1 gigabit per second broadband services.
3. Meet with broadband providers to identify any obstacles to providing 1 gigabit per second services to the
identified Anchor Institutions.
4. Encourage municipalities and new commercial providers to enter the Polk County broadband market.
5. Meet with University of South Florida representatives to discuss how Polk County could access and utilize
Florida LambdaRail services.
6. Utilize the Broadband Polk webpage, social media, and email distribution lists to promote and disseminate
broadband infrastructure and program funding information to Anchor Institutions.
7. Review broadband use at every library in Polk County to ensure that they are utilizing all available broadband
funding opportunities.
8. Identify gaps in broadband service and utilization, especially due to affordability or education, and seek to
establish Neighborhood Broadband Centers (see Strategy #4) where none currently exist.
9. Research opportunities and establish funding sources for the development of Neighborhood Broadband
Centers.
10. Meet with broadband providers to discuss and develop a broadband audit program within Polk County.
11. Meet with Anchor Institutions to introduce the broadband audit program and encourage participation.
12. Meet with Anchor Institutions to encourage the development of meaningful employee suggestion
programs, specifically programs that encourage and/or incentivize employees to submit ideas that use
broadband technology to increase efficiency and improve services.
13. Reward and/or recognize Anchor Institutions that implement policy or programs that utilize broadband
technology to increase efficiency and improve services.
14. Meet with business owners and business associations to discuss broadband access, broadband training
opportunities, and funding opportunities.
15. Work with Chambers of Commerce and local economic development organizations to identify broadband
intensive industries to target.
14