Broadband Initiative

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Helping to bring connectivity to Marion County

The county partnered with Televate in late 2022 to conduct the Broadband Feasibility Study, which helped determine where new/improved broadband services are needed throughout the county.

This survey has helped us provide more information to the Florida Office of Broadband on where improved internet services are needed and where there are opportunities for new services within Marion County.

Marion County has been working with Florida’s Office of Broadband as well as private internet service providers operating in the county to expand access to our underserved residents.

Following this study, the Local Technology Planning Team or LTPT was formed.

What is the Local Technology Planning Team (LTPT)?

This is a team of people made up of staff from Marion County and local municipalities within the county, non-profits, businesses, educational organizations, and private citizens. The LTPT provides letters of support for providers looking to expand their services within the county and is in the process of organizing events that increase digital literacy and equitable access for our residents.

Update as of June 2023

Recently, Governor DeSantis through the Office of Broadband and its Broadband Opportunity Program awarded $60 million to projects around the state aimed at bringing service to un and underserved residents. I’m proud to announce that Marion County will see about $6.5 million here locally.

Comcast received two awards, one for $2,428,013 to add 122.12 miles of fiber optic cable to provide 1,061 unserved locations within Marion County with symmetrical download and upload speeds of 1 GB to parts of Unincorporated Silver Springs, Marion Oaks, and Ocklawaha.

The second award was for $1,043,858 to add 49.17 miles of fiber optic cable designed to provide 668 unserved locations within portions of Rainbow Lakes Estates with symmetrical download and upload speeds of 1 GB.

The final award was to Charter/Spectrum for Zuber $2,980,000 to add 701.1 miles of fiber optic cable to provide 11,920 unserved locations within Mcintosh, Reddick, Anthony, Blitchton, Citra, Ematha, Evinston, Fairfield, East Williston, Irvine, Lowell, Martin, Orange Lake, Spar, York symmetrical download and upload speeds of 1 GB.

Affordable Connectivity Program

The Affordable Connectivity Program is an FCC benefit program that helps ensure that households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare, and more.

The benefit provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands.

Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.

The Affordable Connectivity Program is limited to one monthly service discount and one device discount per household.

For questions about your eligibility or application status, contact the ACP Support Center at 877-384-2575 or email: ACPSupport@USAC.org.
Or contact your local internet service providers:

Florida's Broadband Speed Test

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) is enlisting the help of the public to take an internet speed test to assist in further developing Florida's Broadband Availability Map.

Your participation will help the state of Florida identify gaps in high-speed internet service to advance the state’s overall broadband infrastructure expansion goals.

Using your internet connection, the speed test will measure the speed of internet transmission between your device and an outside server.
The speed test can be completed using any device that has an internet or cellular connection and takes less than one minute to complete.

After taking the speed test, you will receive immediate results from your test. Results will populate the map once you complete the speed test and will include your download, upload, latency, and ping speeds.

The data collected from your internet’s speed test will be displayed on the Florida Broadband Availability Map in real time.

Take Speed Test

For more information contact our legislative manager, Dr. Matthew Cretul, at 352-438-2303 or Matthew.Cretul@MarionFL.org.