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York County issues a RFP to internet service providers to expand broadband access in underserved areas and address digital divide challenges. FELIX MIZIOZNIKOV/GETTY IMAGES
York County issues RFP to expand broadband access in underserved areas
Listen to this articleYork County issues a Request for Proposals (RFP) to internet service providers to expand broadband access in underserved areas and address digital divide challenges.
The York County Board of Commissioners approved plans to issue an RFP to serve as the county’s partner in expanding access to broadband internet access for homes and businesses, particularly those in southeastern York County, where up to 70% of households lack internet access.
Submissions are due July 13, 2026.
“We made a commitment during the COVID-19 pandemic to address the digital divide that continues to exist for residents and businesses in certain pockets of our county,” York County President Commissioner Julie Wheeler said in a statement. “In today’s economy, access to the internet is essential for our children to learn, our families to thrive and our businesses to succeed. With this public-private partnership, we’re keeping our commitment to help ensure no one in York County is left behind.”
Since 2025 York County has partnered with Talkie Communications, a private internet provider that is building internet networks in southwestern York County and investing more than $13 million to reach thousands of homes with high-speed internet.
“We are grateful to the county commissioners for continuing to lead the commonwealth in closing the digital divide for underserved residents,” said York County Economic Alliance‘s Chief Strategy Officer Silas Chamberlin, who chairs the YoCo Fiber Broadband Task Force. “Broadband deployment is incredibly complex and time-intensive, but York County has played the long game and has one simple end goal in mind: connecting as many homes and business to the internet as possible.”
York County has worked since 2020 to implement its YoCo Fiber Strategy, which has included building county-owned broadband infrastructure, developing urban wireless networks, incentivizing private development, and supporting the private sector in securing tens of millions of dollars in state and federal funding to expand networks into more parts of York County.
