Connected Nation Florida tackles the digital divide

Connected Nation reported it had trained more than 100,000 adult learners in essential digital skills as of a December 18, 2024 announcement. (connectednation.org) Its Digital Skills Training Initiative and the Teens Teach Tech program—both relaunched with AT&T support—reached over 16,000 adults in less than 18 months, according to Connected Nation’s June 4, 2024 release. (prnewswire.com) Connected Nation runs a Connected Community Engagement program that provides local broadband planning, digital inclusion services, and help navigating federal/state funding opportunities for communities. (connectednation.org) Florida was allocated roughly $1.16 billion through the federal BEAD program to expand broadband, with the state’s BEAD planning documents noting BEAD funds support deployment plus digital adoption and use activities. (florida-office-of-broadband-flbroadband.hub.arcgis.com) Florida’s State Digital Equity plan, “A Connected Florida,” lists device affordability, digital literacy, and targeted subgrants for covered populations as core priorities, and the state was approved for NTIA digital equity funding in late 2024. (floridajobs.org) Hardee County, which contains Wauchula, recorded 74.1% of households with access to broadband in 2024 versus a statewide rate of 87.2%, illustrating a local adoption gap in the region. (flhealthcharts.gov) Florida-wide mapping audits estimate roughly 911,546 unserved and 447,300 underserved broadband serviceable locations, figures state and nonprofit programs cite when prioritizing digital-adoption efforts. (ready.net) State and industry efforts include workforce initiatives such as the April 24, 2025 Broadband Nation launch to train broadband-related workers, alongside Connected Nation’s training programs, all of which are funded or enabled in part by BEAD and digital equity subgranting for literacy and device ownership. (tiaonline.org)