The federal government is on a path to waste over $30 billion of the $65 billion it plans to spend over the next few years to expand broadband services throughout the nation. Florida can take steps to keep that waste from happening by assuming a leadership role among states determined that their citizens should receive all the broadband that they pay for.

The $65 billion is set aside for several broadband programs included in the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) adopted late last year. The largest allocation is for the $42.5 billion Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program so states and territories can build networks in areas that currently do not have service and improve speed of existing networks.

Read Dr. Jamison’s complete Op-Ed at The Tallahassee Democrat.