- Florida Workforce Initiative
- New Jersey Grant Program
- Fort Bragg Begins Municipal Fiber Project
- Report: Broadband Data Gaps
- Analyzing the Role of Federal Funding
FLORIDA WORKFORCE INITIATIVE
FloridaCommerce, which supports the governor’s work in advancing the Florida economy by administering state and federal programs and initiatives, has announced the launch of a new initiative aimed at bolstering the broadband workforce.
As the state works to bring broadband Internet to all residents, reaching that goal will require adding more than 20,000 workers for jobs in areas including fiber networks, customer service and construction.
This initiative to prepare the workforce is a coordinated effort between FloridaCommerce, CareerSource Florida, the REACH Office, the Florida Department of Education, state and technical colleges, local workforce development boards and other partners. The entities will work together to attract and train the workforce.
“Florida is leading the nation in talent development because our colleges continue to adapt their programs to meet workforce needs,” Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz Jr., said in a statement.
The work is supported by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ 2025-2026 Focus on Fiscal Responsibility budget.
In related news, the Florida Department of Education has approved the curriculum for a Telecommunications and Fiber Optics Technician program at Miami Dade College. The school president said in a statement that the institution can help prepare individuals who are not obtaining four-year degrees for the “many” career opportunities available to them.
The FloridaCommerce Office of Broadband is partnering with the Telecommunications Industry Association to raise awareness about training and education opportunities available to individuals in the state.
This workforce initiative is one way the state is preparing for funding from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program, which is currently on hold for review.
NEW JERSEY GRANT PROGRAM
In other state news, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities has announced the awardees for the New Jersey Broadband Infrastructure Deployment Equity (NJBIDE) Pilot Program.
This $40 million investment aims to expand Internet service to more than 9,000 locations. The grants from this program will support projects in seven different counties.
Notably, these awards mark the first infrastructure grant awarded by the New Jersey Office of Broadband Connectivity.
NJBIDE is funded through the Capital Projects Fund (CPF) and is intended to address urgent needs for broadband infrastructure development. The federal government approved the state’s plan to invest more than $50 million from the CPF to expand broadband infrastructure.
FORT BRAGG BEGINS MUNICIPAL FIBER PROJECT
In local news, the city of Fort Bragg, Calif. — the population of which is less than 7,000 people — announced in April that it would break ground on its Municipal Broadband Utility Project. As of last week, construction crews have mobilized. Through the initiative, the city intends to bring fast and affordable fiber Internet to each of its homes and businesses.
Per the city’s announcement, residents can expect to see temporary paint markings on streets that identify underground utilities. The fiber network will have a centralized data hub and 15 distribution areas. Crews will install conduit and fiber underground using horizontal directional drilling. On April 22, potholing began at the intersection of Alder and Lincoln streets.
The city has said it will release a detailed construction schedule to keep the public informed.
REPORT: BROADBAND DATA GAPS
A new report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) highlights gaps in broadband data that could impact goals of achieving universal connectivity.
The analysis found that the FCC’s National Broadband Map is a primary tool federal agencies are using to make decisions about billions of dollars in federal broadband funding. The accuracy of this tool has long been a concern for stakeholders, and the FCC has not documented or assessed whether its processes for ensuring information accuracy are effectively doing so. Inaccurate data could affect agencies’ abilities to make the most efficient funding decisions.
The city of Baltimore’s director of broadband and digital equity recently told Government Technology that the FCC map identifies the city as being fully served, meaning it will not receive funding from the federal BEAD program.
The GAO has made 14 recommendations, including that the FCC document and evaluate its processes for assuring accuracy. Notably, the GAO also is displaying the status of the recommendations’ implementation.
ANALYZING THE ROLE OF FEDERAL FUNDING
The Princeton Center for Information Technology Policy (CITP) is conducting a study to research how states are using funding from the Digital Equity Act. CITP is a research center studying digital technologies and their role in public life.
CITP will be following the development of awardees’ activity over the next year using metrics of success as identified in each state’s Digital Equity Plan. The research team will be exploring how the state-led projects gather and respond to feedback. The goal is to observe and track the development of this work and the unique pathways being taken by different states.
Those involved in this work are encouraged to connect with the CITP team to share their experiences.
