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RESOLUTION NO. 2021- 077 WHEREAS, the Florida Legislature passed House Bill 969 in 2020 creating an Office of Broadband within the Department of Economic Opportunity requiring the creation of a strategic plan that has goals and strategies for increasing the use of broadband Internet service in the state; and WHEREAS, it's critical the strategic plan be based on up-to-date and location -specific mapping that identifies broadband internet speeds at a granular, census block level to accurately assess internet access needs of the public and private sector; and WHEREAS, the Florida Legislature passed House Bill 1239 in 2021, the "Florida Broadband Deployment Act of 2021", finding sustainable broadband Internet service is critical to economic and business development, essential for all residents, and provided resources to develop a state broadband internet service map to identify connectivity gaps to end users; and WHEREAS, counties serve a vital role in coordinating Office of Broadband Local Technology Planning Teams with their local counterparts, including: libraries; K-12 education; colleges and universities; local health care providers; private businesses; community organizations; economic development organizations; local governments; tourism; parks and recreation; and agriculture; and WHEREAS, state restrictions limit opportunities for counties to aggregate the user scale necessary to overcome otherwise cost -prohibitive service opportunities, achievable through public-private partnerships; and WHEREAS, the National Association of Counties Broadband Task Force report identified specific themes that serve as force multipliers in deploying better and more affordable services, including: • Defining a modern "minimum standard" of Broadband • Implementing smart "Dig Once" policies and practices including "rights of way" as public assets • Testing and deploying fiber, cellular, satellite and other technologies • Focusing on local community engagement and partnerships • Tackling the "Homework Gap" • Removing bans on municipal broadband • Establishing a national grants/loans clearinghouse • Regulating broadband as a utility • Committing to world -leading broadband data and mapping analytics WHEREAS, deployment of broadband internet technology solutions should be tailored to meet the specific needs of the local community; and WHEREAS, collaboration between Internet Service Providers and counties will ensure community needs are addressed within acceptable timeframes to best serve their communities. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of Indian River County, Florida, as follows: Section 1. The above recitals are true and correct and incorporated in this Resolution.