HB 1339 Summary

• Designates the Department of Economic Opportunity as lead state agency for broadband expansion and requires the Florida Office of Broadband to develop geographic information system maps by June 30, 2022, showing broadband availability, speeds, and service gaps consistent with Federal Communications Commission standards.

• Establishes the Broadband Deployment Task Force with representatives from six state agencies, local governments, industry segments, and public members from unserved and underserved areas to identify federal funding sources, develop expansion strategies, and submit annual progress reports by December 30, 2022.

• Requires local technology planning teams to work with rural communities to assess broadband availability, identify unserved and underserved areas, build provider partnerships, and assist with federal grant applications.

• Creates a broadband infrastructure asset map by June 30, 2022, identifying state and federal assets (towers, rights-of-way, transportation corridors), community-owned land, and utility poles available for network expansion.

• Establishes a process for the Florida Office of Broadband to identify eligible households for the federal Emergency Broadband Benefit Program and allows participating providers to offer monthly discounts to low-income households without disqualifying those with prior payment arrearages; effective July 1, 2021.