POLK COUNTY BROADBAND PLAN
12. Meet with Anchor Institutions to encourage the development of meaningful employee suggestion
programs, specifically programs that encourage and/or incentivize employees to submit ideas that use
broadband technology to increase efficiency and improve services.
13. Reward and/or recognize Anchor Institutions that implement policy or programs that utilize broadband
technology to increase efficiency and improve services.
14. Meet with business owners and business associations to discuss broadband access, broadband training
opportunities, and funding opportunities.
15. Work with Chambers of Commerce and local economic development organizations to identify broadband
intensive industries to target.
16. Reward and/or recognize broadband providers that provide expanded access for businesses and business
districts.
17. Provide incentives for broadband providers to offer workshops and training exercises.
18. Develop a series of Public Service Announcements designed to promote Polk County’s broadband assets,
including mobile broadband, and to brand Polk County as a technological and educational hub within
Florida’s High Tech Corridor.
19. Establish partnerships with print, radio, television, and internet media outlets to promote the development,
and highlight the advantages, of the highest speed broadband technologies available, including mobile.
20. Promote technology fairs and conferences within Polk County that include the latest broadband and mobile
broadband technologies and applications.
21. Encourage Polk County and local municipalities to review and revise (if necessary) their Comprehensive
Plan policies, Land Development regulations, and Zoning codes to eliminate any unnecessary restrictions
or burdens upon the installation of broadband infrastructure, including towers.
22. Establish a Polk County Broadband Advocacy Committee whose primary objective is to advocate for
broadband development, education, and utilization at the local, State, and/or Federal level.
23. Encourage Polk County and all 17 local municipalities to develop and adopt broadband infrastructure
policies within their comprehensive plans, establishing broadband as an essential infrastructure similar to
roads, water, sewer, or electricity.
24. Establish quarterly meetings with representatives from local broadband providers to communicate ideas
and share information.
25. Meet with local municipalities and Polk County to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of establishing
local government broadband enterprises and providing broadband services to local business and residents.
26. Meet with local broadband providers to discuss the current obstacles to providing 100/50 mbps services to
Polk County residents and explore solutions, including public/private partnerships.
27. Work with the local chambers of commerce to encourage and promote telecommuting for employees of
Polk County businesses.
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