Two more rural Florida build-outs reached their payoff point in September. Spectrum says its network expansion in Polk County is nearing completion, with service now available to more than 10,000 homes and small businesses. Earlier in the month, Comcast switched on Xfinity and Comcast Business service for more than 2,800 locations in Glades County, including more than 2,100 that previously had no broadband.
Polk County: Spectrum passes 10,000+ homes and small businesses
In a 28-Sep-2026 announcement, Spectrum said Internet with speeds up to 1 Gig, along with Mobile, TV and Voice, is now available to more than 10,000 additional homes and small businesses in Polk County. The company describes the work as part of its multi-year rural construction initiative, which it says is backed by more than $7 billion in private investment and will add over 100,000 miles of fiber nationally to reach more than 1.7 million new locations. Spectrum did not publish pricing or a list of Polk communities.
Bay News 9 (25-Sep-2026) also reported the milestone, alongside a $50,000 Spectrum digital-education grant to Junior Achievement of Tampa Bay that the company says will support roughly 25,000 students a year across Polk, Hardee and Highlands counties.
Glades County: Xfinity reaches Moore Haven, Lakeport and Ortona
Comcast announced on 09-Sep-2026 that Xfinity and Comcast Business service is now available to more than 2,800 homes and businesses in and around Lakeport, Moore Haven, Ortona and Sarasota Colony. More than 2,100 of those locations previously lacked broadband access. Comcast calls the project a public-private partnership with the state.
Light Reading (11-Sep-2026) noted the context: Comcast was awarded $50 million through Florida’s Broadband Opportunity Program in 2023 to connect about 40,000 locations across 23 counties. Glades is one of the counties in that program, which is why more rural-county announcements like this one have been arriving through 2026.
What this means if you live in Florida
If you live in Polk County and have had only satellite or fixed-wireless options, re-check your address on Spectrum’s availability tool; the company says the build is close to done, but “nearing completion” still means some streets may not be live yet. Plan details are on our Spectrum provider page.
In Glades County, Comcast says the 2,800+ locations are serviceable now, so households in Moore Haven, Lakeport, Ortona and Sarasota Colony can order today. See our Xfinity provider page for plan options. Neither announcement included promotional pricing, so compare the full post-promo rate before you sign. If neither network reaches your home yet, T-Mobile Home Internet and Starlink remain the practical stopgaps.
Sources
- Spectrum (Charter newsroom) — Spectrum Launches High-Speed Internet to More Than 10,000 Homes and Small Businesses in Polk County, Florida (28-Sep-2026)
- Bay News 9 — Spectrum expands internet services to over 10,000 homes and businesses in Polk County (25-Sep-2026)
- Comcast via Business Wire — Xfinity and Comcast Business High-Speed Internet Now Available to More Than 2,800 Homes and Businesses in Glades County, Florida (09-Sep-2026)
- Light Reading — The Buildout: Comcast connects rural Glades County (11-Sep-2026)