Miami-Dade announces Broadband and Digital Equity Plan
From David Volz
On Wednesday, October 25th, Miami-Dade County will officially announce the beginning of Mayor Daniella Levine Cava’s Broadband and Digital Equity Plan, a part of her Future Ready strategy- which outlines a six-point strategy to close our digital divide and ensure all Miami-Dade County residents have equal access and opportunity. The launch will take place at Miami-Dade County’s first-ever Digital Equity Tech Summit hosted at the University of Miami Lakeside Expo Center.
With this Plan, Miami-Dade County becomes one of the first local communities in the United States to respond to the “Internet for All” initiative. It positions the County to benefit from a historic level of federal investment in broadband infrastructure with a collaborative strategy to make best use of these funds.
“High-speed internet should be as commonplace as water and electricity,” said Mayor Levine Cava. “Broadband access isn’t a luxury, but a necessity that opens doors to opportunity and facilitates inclusion in the new economy by enabling access to education, jobs, and services that can meaningfully improve our residents’ lives. By launching this plan now, we are ahead of the curve and positioning our County as a national leader on digital equity.”
Mayor Levine Cava’s Plan, created in partnership with the Miami Foundation and Miami Connected, was informed by conversations with Miami-Dade residents, key partners from all corners of the community, national experts and detailed data analysis. It outlines a multifaceted strategy to bridge the digital divide and ensure County residents have access to fast, affordable, and reliable Internet access.
According to data collected by Miami-Dade County from the Federal Communications Commission and the County’s Geospatial Information System, only 36% of households have access to top-quality, fiber-based broadband, and more than 455,000 households do not have access to competitive pricing and multiple internet service providers.
“What will it take for every single person in Miami to have access to high quality internet? Bold, unified leadership, and a clear plan,” said Rebecca Fishman Lipsey, president and CEO of The Miami Foundation. “When we stood together three years ago and launched Miami Connected, we made a bold promise to make Miami the most technologically inclusive region in the nation. This Broadband and Digital Equity Plan is a massive step toward fulfilling that promise, and we’re proud to stand together to make this plan a reality.
