

KPMG: Leading in Broadband
Helping Florida and other states deliver high-speed internet and economic opportunity
By Maggie Mickler, Managing Director, KPMG
It is a common understanding among our society that utilities such as electricity and water are pivotal resources and key components to support our quality of life. Any service interruption is deemed a potential humanitarian crisis.
With the relentless proliferation of technology in nearly all aspects of our lives, high-speed internet is fast joining the ranks as a necessity we simply cannot prosper without. The digital landscape in rural areas across the country is no exception with sectors like precision farming, digital supply chain management, online healthcare, and education services. Additionally, citizens and businesses increasingly rely on high-speed internet for their daily activities.
Yet, like many other states, hundreds of thousands of Floridians still live without access to broadband – the infrastructure that delivers affordable, high-speed internet. Broadband is deemed increasingly essential for any community’s economic growth, ongoing education, access to healthcare, and living a more connected lifestyle.
Government officials have long recognized this widening gap and, since 2020, began making statewide expansion efforts a top priority for state and local communities. Florida state leaders, including legislative support, secured available state and federal funding to create strategic plans and are now implementing a public-private partnership approach to support the state’s economic vitality.
KPMG, as a contracted vendor, serves as a strategic advisor to several states’ broadband efforts across the country to assist with program design and implementation serving many stakeholders throughout the nation.
Combined, the funding from the various state and federal programs, including the now active Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, is used to build new broadband infrastructure, upgrade existing networks, and implement innovative solutions to improve internet connectivity in underserved areas.
Intended results
In Florida, the planned outcomes are far-reaching:
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Workforce development: A connected economy is realized when robust workforce development initiatives result in the creation and sustainability of high-quality, high-paying jobs and career paths for residents, particularly in communities that are rural and/or underserved.
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Education: In order to create successful career pathways, there must be greater access to educational opportunities and educational choice for students and families, while promoting enhanced collaboration between educational institutions and private sector businesses.
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Healthcare: Increased availability of telehealth and public health services in typically underserved communities will play a vital role in promoting healthier citizens and supporting their ability to be successful in all other facets of their lives.
How it works
Since the return of investment isn’t often realized for many years, the initial high cost of installing fiber optic deters internet service providers (ISPs) from investing in less densely populated areas. The approach is akin to the 1930s when the focus was on bringing poles and lines to the last pockets of the United States without electricity.
To address broadband, various state implementation plans cover investing in infrastructure by working closely with ISPs and local communities to identify areas in need of improved broadband access and to implement initiatives that promote broadband deployment.
The result is an initial investment of high capital costs and more rapid connectivity by a previously underserved public.
To prioritize efforts, many states have mapped out the most critical areas and work through a community-centered response to allow for a transparent process that focuses on strengthening the connections between workforce investments, economic development, and the communities they serve.
Also, the future broadband work – over the next five years – means significant jobs from fiber installation through ongoing servicing to future customers and expanded economic growth.
A bright outlook
As Florida and other states embark on settling the digital frontier and their communities join the standard for 21st Century connectivity, all will benefit by unlocking even more potential. This will no doubt set the stage for fueling positive future growth and success.
Furthermore, there is potential to generate significant value by fostering the growth of new digital ecosystems in areas like agriculture, education, energy, financial services, healthcare, and logistics. The advantages of robust broadband networks across the nation in enhancing productivity and efficiency are becoming increasingly evident in these sectors as they transition to digital operations.
Often, technology investment correlates to a multiplier effect stimulating the growth of support jobs, including non-skilled, which enhances the quality of life for all. Realizing this potential value demands broad adoption of high-speed internet services and comprehensive implementation of the broadband infrastructure across the entire nation.
Maggie Mickler is Managing Director of KPMG where she focuses on helping agencies address challenges related to grants management, disaster recovery, and risk management. She has previously held roles with Florida Department of Children and Families, FloridaCommerce, and Florida Department of Management Services. For more information about KPMG’s Florida government team site, scan in the QR code or click here.