At its January 13, 2021 meeting, the City Commission approved a referral to the Neighborhoods and Quality of Life Committee, to discuss options to bring fiber optic internet connectivity to Miami Beach.

The referral originated from resident emails to the City requesting that the City assist with the implementation a process that makes it easier for them to engage with the City's internet service providers when it comes to their fiber optic internet needs.

Florida law does not require that internet service providers disclose the internet provider's areas of coverage within the municipality to the City of Miami Beach in connection with the internet provider's franchise agreements to provide commercial and residential buildings internet connectivity. The City however, can provide its residents and businesses a list of the service providers that are available to them, who they may call for their internet service (fiber optic) needs, which are:

• AT&T

         800-331-0500

• Atlantic Broadband

          888-536-9600

• Comcast

          800-266-2278

• Crown Castle Fiber

          866-787-2637

• Hot Wire Communication

          800-355-5668

While the City of Miami Beach's authority on this matter may be limited, this discussion may however, be used as a catalyst for ideas on ways that the City can foster better communications between it's residents and the internet service providers that operate within the City's purview and perhaps explore ways to incentivize providers to expand their services.