Two of Florida’s Heartland counties are seeing new wired internet options. On 02-Nov-2026 the Highlands News-Sun reported that local leaders and Comcast marked the completed network expansion in Highlands County, and in mid-October Comcast announced service to nearly 2,000 homes and businesses in neighboring Hardee County. Both builds are part of Comcast’s rural expansion with the State of Florida.
Highlands County: 4,000-plus locations
According to the News-Sun, Xfinity and Comcast Business service is now available to more than 4,000 additional homes and businesses in Highlands County, including more than 1,800 locations that previously had no broadband. Comcast first announced the 4,000-location figure in July 2026. County Commission Chair Don Elwell said the work added just under 100 miles of fiber and noted that the county has ranked near the bottom of the state for residential fiber and broadband availability. The build was done in partnership with the Florida Department of Commerce, with a focus on rural northern and western parts of the county.
Hardee County: nearly 2,000 locations
In a 14-Oct-2026 announcement, Comcast said nearly 2,000 homes and businesses in Hardee County can now get its service, more than 1,300 of which previously lacked broadband. The build covers areas in and around Buchanan, Crewsville, Gardner, Lemon Grove, Moffitt, Oak Grove, Sweetwater, Wauchula and Zolfo Springs, and was funded through a public-private partnership with the State of Florida.
What this means if you live in Florida
If you live in rural Highlands or Hardee County and previously relied on satellite, fixed wireless or a phone hotspot, it is worth rechecking your address: Comcast says availability can be checked by address on its website, and coverage still varies street by street. These figures come from Comcast and county officials, and Comcast has said it is building in a dozen other Florida counties, so neighboring areas may see similar announcements. If wired service still does not reach you, satellite options such as Starlink and HughesNet remain the fallback in the most remote areas.
Sources
- Highlands News-Sun: Comcast celebrates Highlands high-speed internet expansion (02-Nov-2026)
- Comcast via Business Wire: Xfinity and Comcast Business High-Speed Internet Now Available to Nearly 2,000 Homes and Businesses in Hardee County, Florida (14-Oct-2026)
- Comcast via Business Wire: Xfinity and Comcast Business High Speed Internet Now Available to More Than 4,000 Homes and Businesses in Highlands County, Florida (20-Jul-2026)