GREEN COVE SPRINGS— During the April 26 Board of County Commissioners meeting, commissioners voted to approve an agreement for broadband infrastructure with Comcast Cable Communications LLC to extend broadband service into areas of Clay County that lack internet service.
Comcast currently serves many areas of Clay County and has agreed to extend its cable system and will design, contract, and maintain a state-of-the-art broadband network in the designated service extension areas in a phased approach.
Phase 1 of the project will include the extension of Comcast’s cable system to provide internet service to the northwest portion of Clay Hill and the area of Keystone Heights north on County Road 214 and east of State Road 21, moving out toward McRae. Households and businesses will then have the option to sign up as a customer with Comcast and purchase services according to their specific needs.
Comcast also participates in the Federal Communication Commission’s Affordable Connectivity Program through Internet Essentials, which provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households.
The estimated completion date for Phase 1 is 12 months after permits are granted and utility line locates are performed, however, residents will have the option to hook up to internet service as soon as it becomes available in their area. The total shared cost for this phase of the project is $3.35 million with the county contributing $2 million and Comcast contributing $1.35 million. The system will be owned, operated, and maintained by Comcast.
The funding source for this broadband investment is the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, intended to address the economic impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic and lay the foundation for a strong recovery. The Act specifically addresses broadband service as critical for work, education, healthcare, and civic participation during a public-health emergency.
Future phases of the project will extend broadband service into other underserved areas of the county as funding is identified.
Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners Wayne Bolla said, “The goal of the broadband infrastructure project is to expand reliable, high-speed internet services to as many households and businesses in Clay County as possible.”
District Four Commissioner Betsy Condon represents Clay County on the Florida Association of Counties’ ACCESS 67 Initiative, which is working to develop solutions to address the impacts of the lack of access to critical telecommunication and information technology resources in Florida communities.
Commissioner Condon said, “The economic impact of broadband expansion will be seen through improved access to educational and employment opportunities resulting in increased job growth, higher wages, higher rates of new business formation, increased home values and lower unemployment rates in Clay County. Commissioner Condon added, “Broadband expansion can also improve health and life outcomes for our residents by offering access to remote healthcare providers and health information.”
