Almost THIRTY years since the World Wide Web became available to the public,  most citizens of Gilchrist County, Florida still DO NOT have access to high-speed Internet services.

High-speed Internet or "Broadband" is defined, by the FCC, as service that has speeds of AT LEAST 25 megabits per second (mbps) for downloads and 3 mbps for uploads. Most homeowners, if they have any Internet access at all, are most likely limited to outdated and unreliable DSL service that is very slow with speeds as low as 1 mbps upload and .25 mbps download. Satellite internet has failed, for most subscribers, to deliver advertised speeds and reliability due to its high latency (lag) design, throttled speeds, and weather sensitivity.

The lack of high-speed Internet in our County unfairly and unnecessarily deprives many citizens of the required level of Internet access needed to effectively utilize the plethora of modern and advanced educational, governmental, medical, and consumer services that are available on the Internet. As a rural community with significant time and distance challenges to conveniently and efficiently reach services, one can argue that high-speed Internet is much more essential to rural communities than urban ones.

It is time for our County to move into the 21st century!  We call on all of our County leadership to step up and help to bring more high speed Internet providers and services to the under served areas of Gilchrist County.