KPMG: Leading in Broadband
By Maggie Mickler , Managing Director, KPMG Helping Florida and other states deliver high-speed internet and economic opportunity
I t is a common understanding among our society that utilities such as electricity and water are pivotal resources and key components to support our quality of life. Any service interruption is deemed a potential humanitarian crisis. With the relentless proliferation of technology in nearly all aspects of our lives, high-speed internet is fast joining the ranks as a necessity we simply cannot prosper without. The digital landscape in rural areas across the country is no exception with sectors like precision farming, digital supply chain management, online healthcare, and education services. Additionally, citizens and businesses increasingly rely on high-speed internet for their daily activities. Yet, like many other states, hundreds of thousands of Floridians still live without access to broadband – the infrastructure that
delivers affordable, high-speed internet. Broadband is deemed increasingly essential for any community’s economic growth, ongoing education, access to healthcare, and living a more connected lifestyle. Government officials have long recognized this widening gap and, since 2020, began making statewide expansion efforts a top priority for state and local communities. Florida proliferation of technology in nearly all aspects of our lives, highspeed internet is fast joining the ranks as a necessity we simply cannot prosper without. ” “ With the relentless
state leaders, including legislative support, secured available state and federal funding to create strategic plans and are now implementing a public-private partnership approach to support the state’s economic vitality. KPMG, as a contracted vendor, serves as a strategic advisor to several states’ broadband efforts across the country to assist with program design and implementation serving many stakeholders throughout the nation. Combined, the funding from the various state and federal programs, including the now active Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, is used to build new broadband infrastructure, upgrade existing networks, and implement innovative solutions to improve internet connectivity in underserved areas. continued on page 14 »
Florida Technology Magazine – 2024 Fall Edition – 13
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