HARRISBURG – Sen. Michele Brooks (R-50) today announced that the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority (PBDA) has approved $48.7 million in provisional funding allocations to expand broadband access across the 50th Senate District through the federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program.
“I worked hard to advocate for this historic investment in our communities every step of the way,” Brooks said. “Locations across Crawford, Mercer and the portions of Lawrence County within the 50th Senatorial District that the PBDA identified as needing coverage will now be connected through the funding of these projects. For far too long, families, farms, schools and small businesses in rural Pennsylvania have been left behind because of a lack of reliable internet service. Today we are taking a major step toward closing that digital divide.”
Internet providers slated to receive funding to serve residents in the 50th Senatorial District include:
- Amazon Kuiper Commercial Services LLC – LEO Satellite
- Armstrong Telecommunications, Inc. – Fiber
- Comcast Cable Communications, LLC – Fiber/Coax
- CoreConnect (CocoNet Inc.) – Fiber
- IBT Group USA, LLC – Fixed Wireless
- SpaceX – LEO Satellite
- Verizon North LLC/Verizon Pennsylvania LLC – Fiber
The funding will enable providers to expand high-speed internet access in unserved and underserved communities throughout the 50th District, with some of these providers receiving additional support to extend service further throughout the commonwealth.
The PBDA, established with the support of Senate Republicans, is an independent agency within the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. The PBDA oversees the development of a statewide broadband plan and administers federal and state funding to expand broadband infrastructure in unserved and underserved areas of Pennsylvania. For additional information, please visit PBDA’s website.
CONTACT:
Fallon Binner; 717-787-1322