Pa. moves to close digital divide, expand internet access

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The Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority (PBDA) has approved $204.1 million in grant awards to expand high-speed internet access in underserved areas.

U.S. Senator Bob Casey, D-PA, and PBDA Executive Director Brandon Carson announced the grant awards Thursday.

The funding will be matched by more than $200 million in private investment, bringing this total investment for Pennsylvania broadband projects to more than $400 million, which will provide affordable internet access for more than 40,000 homes and businesses.

“Too many Pennsylvanians don’t have the high-speed internet they need to do their homework, support their small business, or stay connected with loved ones,” Casey said in a statement. “Thanks to the American Rescue Plan, we’re changing that. This funding will help close the digital divide in Pennsylvania communities that need it most, rural, and urban areas alike.”

The Broadband Infrastructure Program (BIP) grant awards will go to 53 projects in 42 counties across Pennsylvania, bringing high-speed internet to over 100,000 Pennsylvanians.

“The PBDA has worked hard to ensure Pennsylvania receives the funding we need to address access and connectivity issues impacting communities across the commonwealth – and today’s allocation of $204 million in awards is a significant step forward in getting more Pennsylvanians connected to high-speed, affordable internet,” said Carson. “As Pennsylvanians increasingly rely on broadband to live healthy and productive lives, expanding access to the internet is essential to creating opportunity for folks all across our commonwealth.”

Funded through the federal Capital Projects Fund, the BIP awards grants for line extension and development projects, and large-scale regional infrastructure projects.

“Across the commonwealth, more than 276,000 households, businesses, schools, and libraries don’t have access to broadband,” said Pennsylvania Budget Secretary Uri Monson, PBDA Board Chairman. “To create more opportunity for all Pennsylvanians, we must expand access to reliable and affordable high-speed internet. The broadband infrastructure awards made today are yet another step toward making that a reality while responsibly managing this funding to ultimately save Pennsylvanians money on the critical internet services they need for the best quality of life.”

Ricky Frazier Jr., senior vice president, Comcast’s Keystone Region, said the company is “thrilled to have been selected by the commonwealth to reach more Pennsylvanians in unserved areas with our superior network while also enabling them to benefit from the power of the Internet and engage in the digital economy. The enthusiasm for our company within these communities has been humbling. There is a strong desire for Xfinity and Comcast Business services, and we look forward to meeting that need.”

Projects must deliver service that meets or exceeds symmetrical download and upload speeds of 100 Megabits per second, with prioritization given to fiber-optic deployment. 

“The Biden-Harris Administration has made historic investments to increase access to high-speed internet so Pennsylvanians can better compete in the 21st century,” said U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo. “High-speed internet is key to enabling Americans to succeed at work and in school as well as access health care, and these new investments advance our progress.”