Jesse Scheckner
Miami-Dade voters this year will be able to weigh in on the prospect of expanding public internet access to all corners of the county.
Commissioners this month voted for a resolution by Kionne McGhee to place a nonbinding question on the Nov. 5 ballot asking whether the county should extend its free Wi-Fi program countywide.
The yes-or-no query will read: “Should Miami-Dade County take action to expand free public Wi-Fi access countywide, including advocating for any necessary changes to state or federal law?”
The measure passed unanimously (12-0) without comment just three days after McGhee filed it. Miami-Dade Commission Chair Oliver Gilbert approved placing the item on the Commission’s July 16 agenda for a first and final vote without prior committee review.
Commissioners approved an agreement with Massachusetts-based company CIVIQ Smartscapes in January 2017 to provide free Wi-Fi at up to 300 interactive digital “Waypoint” kiosks, 51 transit stations and on thousands of transit vehicles. The first kiosk debuted at County Hall four months later.
But the deal fell apart within a year. CIVIQ terminated its contract with Miami-Dade after the county failed to provide the company with enough locations at which to install the kiosks.
Since then, the county has expanded its public Wi-Fi offerings to its Metrobus and Metrorail vehicles. It’s also available at public parks, county libraries and through hotspot kits that libraries loan.
Several of Miami-Dade’s 34 municipalities provide free Wi-Fi too.
But Miami-Dade residents may want more, according to McGhee, who told Florida Politics that the potential impact of free countywide Wi-Fi would be “profound.” It would open doors for job-seekers, he said, while reducing the need for physical infrastructure and boosting business productivity and access to global markets.
“Overall, free Wi-Fi strengthens our community by bridging the digital divide, promoting education, and fostering innovation,” he said. “Statistics show that communities with widespread internet access see significant economic growth, improved quality of life, and stronger social ties. It’s a game-changer.”
In late May, the White House published a blog post on the Affordable Connectivity Program, an initiative launched in mid-2022 under President Joe Biden that provided internet bill discounts of up to $30 per month to qualifying U.S. households and up to $75 monthly for homes on Tribal Lands.
Congress discontinued funding for the pandemic-era program this year. By Monday, an estimated 23 million low-income Americans had been affected.
That’s bad news for their economic well-being. A 2018 survey by the Technology Policy Institute of 1,275 low-income U.S. households found access to affordable internet access is vital to financial sustenance and growth, with 81% of respondents saying web access helps save money on monthly bills. That figure has surely grown post-pandemic.
“Access to free Wi-Fi is not just a convenience, it’s a necessity for our community’s growth and development,” McGhee said. “By providing this ballot question, we elevate our community to world-class status, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to thrive in the digital age.”
