There are 50 public safety entities located within the Florida Rural Broadband Alliance (FRBA) project service area. FRBA will make it a priority to provide service to the law enforcement, emergency medical systems and fire departments throughout its service area. Letters were received from nine public safety entities demonstrating the support of these institutions for this project. The project design incorporates a secure multi-megabit connection for intranet and internet connectivity. The network will give public safety organizations the ability to leverage vertical assets while its architecture accommodates the future deployment of fleet mobile broadband connectivity. That means emergency relief efforts can be quickly coordinated in response to catastrophic events, such as flooding, tropical storms, hurricanes, and power outages, which are common in Florida’s violent and extreme climate.

FDOT

According to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), a Broadband Middle Mile network would improve the opportunities for FDOT to locate Intelligent Transportation Systems along the highways, and particularly the hurricane evacuation routes, that traverse the regions. The implications for public safety and economic stability are immense.