Bilirakis Works to Close the Digital Divide by Prioritizing Broadband Investment in Flood Plains

Washington, DC: Today, Congressman Gus Bilirakis re-introduced the Coastal Broadband Deployment Act, which would accelerate the deployment of broadband projects entirely within a floodplain. Broadband connectivity is a vital tool for economic development, education, improved access to healthcare options, and for emergency communication. While there has been a great deal of federal funding authorized in recent years to help improve internet connectivity throughout the nation, the sad truth is that those dollars have been bogged down in red tape and that far too many homes are without this critical infrastructure.

Florida was ravaged by recent back-to-back hurricanes and Floridians had a critical need to receive emergency information both prior to those natural disasters and in the aftermath of the storms. Those who were without connectivity were at a significant disadvantage in receiving timely updates and filing for critical assistance. It was abundantly clear that Congress should remove red tape and prioritize the investment of a resilient system of infrastructure buildouts in these most vulnerable areas.

"Several parts of my district lie within flood zones," said Congressman Bilirakis. "I want to be sure that all of my constituents have access to 21^st Century Technologies, enabling them to harness the potential power that these capabilities offer. Being left behind is not an option."

This legislation is an important step forward in closing the digital divide for the estimated 21 million Americans who cannot access broadband technologies.