Pennsylvania to Receive $1.16 Billion in Federal Broadband Funding 

Gov. Josh Shapiro announced yesterday that the Commonwealth will receive more than $1.16 billion in federal funds to expand broadband in unserved and underserved areas to make sure every Pennsylvanian has access to affordable, high-speed internet. This funding is through the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program (BEAD). This funding will be administered by the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority.  

The Authority worked with Penn State Extension to identify more than 50,000 locations that lack access to broadband but weren’t included in the federal government’s initial survey. So far, the Federal Communications Commission has upheld more than half of these challenges, making those locations eligible for federal funding and ensuring that Pennsylvania got its fair share. It is now working on an action plan to distribute the funds, which must be completed by August 12. Read on to see how you can have input on this critical plan. Click here for the press release.