Keystone Today

Gov. Tom Wolf announced that the Pennsylvania Statewide Broadband Plan has been released, which is focused on immediate and long term broadband access needs for all Pennsylvanians with a major focus on unserved and underserved residents.

Wolf said on Nov. 28 that the broadband access is a necessary part of life for all residents. There are as many as 800,000 unserved Pennsylvanians.

“Broadband is as essential today as electricity and water," Wolf said. "But there is a digital divide in Pennsylvania. This plan will ensure consistent, affordable, quality statewide broadband to keep children learning, businesses growing, and opportunities abounding for all Pennsylvanians.”

The Statewide Broadband Plan was approved unanimously by the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority on Nov. 17. In 2021, the governor signed legislation creating the Broadband Authority. It is a bipartisan partnership that serves as a “one stop shop” for broadband. The authority handles $100 million in federal funds to work toward broadband access for all.

According to Wolf’s announcement, the authority has worked to improve infrastructure and availability for broadband. It has also worked on digital equity, affordability, addressing challenges for broadband expansion, device and technology access, digital literacy and technical support.

“Equal access to the internet, regardless of location or income, must be provided if Pennsylvania is to remain competitive,” Executive Director of the Authority Brandon Carson said. “Broadband access affects every area of our lives – from work, to education, to health, and safety. Closing the digital divide helps enhance our communities and fosters economic growth and innovation for all Pennsylvanians.”

Wolf has worked throughout his time in office to improve Pennsylvania’s broadband access. In 2018, he launched the Pennsylvania Broadband Incentive Program for rural areas in a $35 million campaign. Then in 2021, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development launched the Unserved High-Speed Broadband Funding Program, which used $10 million to deploy high speed broadband in unserved areas.