DeSantis Announces $144 Million Boost for Rural Broadband in Florida

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced on Feb. 2, 2023, $144 in projects extending broadband access to underserved areas, many of them rural. It will help students in those areas keep up. Guillaume Souvant/AFP via Getty Images

Following up on his release of Florida’s proposed 2023-24 budget, Gov. Ron DeSantis is putting $144 million toward improving broadband internet access for under-served areas of the state.

Speaking in Milton on Feb. 2, DeSantis presented a ceremonial check for almost $2.4 million to Santa Rosa County Communities to put 791 unserved locations online with fiber-optic cable.