The state of Florida has begun accepting applications for $133 million in broadband funding through its Broadband Opportunity Program. The deadline for applications is June 23 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time.
The funding will be used to deploy broadband to unserved locations in the state.
The program has a total budget of $400 million, which came through the federal State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund. That fund made money available to each state that could be used for a variety of purposes, including broadband.
The U.S. Treasury Department has overall responsibility for programs funded through that program.
Rules for the Florida program require funding recipients to contribute at least 50% of project costs and limit individual awards to no more than $5 million per project.
The applications that are being accepted now are for the second application cycle in the Broadband Opportunity Program. The state previously awarded $166 million in the program, which was covered in two separate announcements.
Cable companies Comcast, Charter and Cox were big winners in the first announcement, which involved $144 million. Also winning funding in that round were AT&T, CenturyLink/Lumen and others.
Charter and several smaller companies won funding in the second announcement, which was for $22 million. Additional information about the Florida Broadband Opportunity Program can be found at this link.
