DeSantis Awards $2.6 Million To EREC’s North Escambia, Santa Rosa Fiber Broadband Project

May 27, 2023

Friday, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced over $2.6 million in funding for rural fiber internet in northern Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.

The $2,615,434.62 for Escambia River Electric Cooperative’s broadband project was awarded through the Broadband Opportunity Program to expand broadband Internet access in Florida’s unserved communities.

According to the state, the award will specifically add 1,015 miles of fiber optic cable to provide 1,193 unserved locations in and around Walnut Hill, Jay, Pine Level, Berrydale, Brownsdale, Dixonville, Mount Carmel, Munson, Springhill, and Whitfield.

The preliminary stages of a fiber buildout are currently underway in North Escambia, and about a month ago the member owned cooperative announced that their high speed internet service is also coming to Santa Rosa County.

The project across both counties is projected to cost $36 million and will include availability across the entire EREC electrical service area.

In March, the Escambia County Commission voted to contribute $6.3 million from American Rescue Plan funds toward a network that will span approximately 600 miles of fiber in Escambia County, reaching over 4,000 EREC member locations.

The network is expected to be complete in Escambia County by mid-2024, with initial service availability targeted as early as the third quarter of 2023.

DeSantis announced a total of $60 million in awards Friday to support 22 broadband projects in 19 Florida counties, impacting nearly 58,000 locations. That brings the total to more than $226 million that has been awarded to expand broadband Internet access across the state, helping to connect more than 250,000 homes and businesses.

“This $60 million in awards brings our total investment in broadband to more than $226 million to expand broadband Internet access in Florida’s under connected communities,” said DeSantis. “With this investment, we are connecting more than 250,000 unserved homes and businesses and expanding opportunities in rural communities.”

“Thanks to Governor DeSantis’ leadership, Floridians won’t need to leave their hometowns to access education, healthcare, and business resources due to lack of broadband Internet access,” said Department of Economic Opportunity Acting Secretary, Meredith Ivey. “Small and rural communities across the state will be able to connect to fast, reliable broadband Internet at their home or business and can take advantage of the opportunities that accompany broadband Internet connectivity.”

Comments

4 Responses to “DeSantis Awards $2.6 Million To EREC’s North Escambia, Santa Rosa Fiber Broadband Project”

  1. Greg Gay on May 29th, 2023 9:17 am

    I am already signed up for EREC Conexon 2G fiber. They say I should have mine (6000 block HWY 97 Walnut Hill) by November of this year. If you sign up now you get setup fees waved so make sure to go ahead and sign up now.

  2. Emma James on May 28th, 2023 7:30 pm

    After suffering with satellite internet for 20+ years, as my only option. I am so thankful that EREC has utilized all its funding opportunities to bring high-speed fiber to its co-op members!

    Florida received more than $247 million in federal funding to expand broadband infrastructure to rural and underserved communities across the state through the Broadband Infrastructure Program by February 2023. Nice to see this benefitting NW Florida. Thanks to everyone who made this improvement to our counties possible.

  3. BIG JOHN on May 27th, 2023 12:45 pm

    WAY TO GO EREC, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK, I’AM SO HAPPY TO BE A MENBER

  4. Mike Andel on May 27th, 2023 8:53 am

    What about southern Santa Rosa? Do we have fiber optic already? Who provides the service? Who do we sign up with and pay for it if it is already available? Mediacom, ATT or someone else?

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News