Leaders announce East Orange County residents will have access to broadband internet

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Many people in East Orange County have never had access to broadband internet until now.

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A new partnership between the county and a private provider ensures rural areas like Bithlo/Christmas and South Apopka get access.

On Friday, the Orange County mayor and commissioners announced a brand-new partnership to increase broadband access to several homes.

“Over the past few months, we have been partnering with nonprofit organizations to deliver Wi-Fi-enabled tablets and laptops to our residents,” said Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings. “We have already distributed nearly 700 devices to residents, and the numbers are still climbing.”

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County leaders hope the move will bridge the gap across unserved communities, like parts of Bithlo, Christmas, and South Apopka.

Broadband access allows people to do simple things like request a prescription, see a doctor via telehealth, or attend classes.

“Think about students who had to head up to Panera and, you know, the coffee shop and McDonald’s just hunting for Wi-Fi,” said District 2 Commissioner Christine Moore. “But yet, those are the same families that are transportation challenged, and so they certainly were at a deficit compared to any other.”

This is just the beginning of a larger plan to expand broadband access all across the county.

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