Some citizens online question the board of county commissioners' wisdom in utilizing ARPA funds for strategic infrastructure investments in broadband.
We all lived through COVID and learned the lessons of how a good internet connection (or lack thereof) made two classes of citizens----those who could work and have their kids attend school virtually--and those who could not.
And not because of price. Because of availability.
Escambia County has broad swaths of areas where the citizens have no good broadband accessibility, and investing ARPA funds in providing this (in conjunction with private providers and their investment and buy-in) is a good investment for citizens, our communities, our county and our region.
Some citizens think that utilization of ARPA funds for this purpose is reckless. I disagree.
MANY counties around the nation are utilizing portion(s) of their ARPA funds to increase accessibility to quality, high-speed internet for underserved communities.
Placer County and San Diego County in California and Hamilton County Ohio are each spending $10 Million from ARPA for broadband accessibility. Onondaga County New York is spending $15 Million in ARPA funds for the same purpose--to address the "digital divide" within their community.
El Paso County, Colorado, Franklin County Ohio, Travis County, Texas, and Washington DC are all utilizing some portion(s) of their ARPA funding allocations to achieve strategic investments in broadband accessibility for their citizens.
Lots of other counties are doing likewise---a list which is soon to include Escambia County, Florida
So if you run into someone who does not know what is going on, is rather clueless on what's happening around the country in multiple jurisdictions regarding ARPA funding utilization statutes and regulations and ARPA expenditur for broadband infrastructure expansion---make sure you tell them to do some basic research on these specific topics: 1.) the allowable uses of ARPA funds, and 2.) how Escambia County is FAR FROM being an OUTLIER in this form of community investment utilizing ARPA funding.
Many of the negative perceptions on this strategic planning/investment Escambia is working toward come from "individuals" and "group thinkers" who have no idea what is actually happening outside their own home, street, and online chat groups--let alone the rest of the country.
Hopefully they'll find the time to figure out it isn't uncommon to do what we are going to do.
Probably not, some of them.
