The company building a broadband network in eight Northwest Florida counties is holding a public meeting Thursday in Jackson County.

The Florida Rural Broadband Alliance hopes to begin providing high-speed internet access to 210,000 people in Jackson, Washington, Holmes, and several other counties, by Fall 2012. The Broadband Network has been in the works since 2005. The estimated cost is $34 million dollars.

By August 2012, the Broadband Alliance says internet access will be six times faster and cheaper.