Technology
$204 million in federal broadband funding is on its way to Pennsylvania
The Broadband Development Authority announced Thursday the American Rescue Plan dollars will fund 53 broadband projects in 42 counties
Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority Executive Director Brandon Carson speaks during a press conference in December 2022. Commonwealth Media Services
A significant chunk of the $279 million that Pennsylvania is set to receive in federal broadband funding has been approved for 53 development projects across 42 counties, the Pennsylvania Broadband Authority announced Thursday.
The PBDA announced that $204 million in Broadband Infrastructure Program dollars, distributed through the Capital Funds Project, has been approved, with projects expected to break ground this summer.
“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,” PBDA Executive Director Brandon Carson said. “These projects will leverage historic federal funding and private investment to connect communities to the internet – and the PBDA will continue working to make this a reality for even more Pennsylvanians.”
Carson said the projects, which consist of both local line extensions and larger regional infrastructure buildouts, are being finalized and are expected to be under contract in June. The projects – which would connect 40,000 homes and businesses across the state – would break ground this summer soon after.
The $279 million the commonwealth received through the American Rescue Plan’s broadband programs will be distributed through several channels, including the $204 million in Capital Funds Project monies announced Thursday and the $20 million in grants made available for local entities like libraries and rec centers last month.
Carson noted that the PBDA received more than 200 applications for local projects, totaling more than $1 billion in requests. The 53 approved projects were selected based on community needs, experience and ability of the applicant, affordability standards and more.
Businesses and nonprofits applying for a development project subsidy also had to match at least 25% of the federal dollars going toward the project, with many developers contributing more than the 25% requirement.
According to the PBDA, there are more than 276,000 underserved or unserved broadband areas within the commonwealth, with 95% of those in non-urban communities.