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BELLEFONTE -- Governor Josh Shapiro and Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority (PBDA) Executive Director Brandon Carson visited Bald Eagle High School in Centre County to announce more than $448 million in Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) grants have been awarded to projects in 50 counties across the Commonwealth. This is the first round of awards after the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) approved more than $711 million in BEAD funding for Pennsylvania in April.
Speakers at the event included Superintendent Christopher Santini; Shapiro; Katie Kingera, a counselor with the school district; Carson; Greg Scott, the CEO with the Centre County Chamber; Commissioner Mark Higgins; Steve Kuncelman, a lineman with IBEW Local 126; Rep. Robert Matzie, PA-16; and Rep. Paul Takac, PA-82.
Since the Governor took office, the number of households that lack access to high-speed internet has decreased by nearly 60 percent across the Commonwealth, down from more than 330,000 households in 2022 to less than 133,000 today. The administration claims this to be a result of its work to drive out funding quickly and effectively.
The projects announced today build on that progress to continue bringing reliable, affordable, high-speed internet to homes, businesses, schools, libraries, and other community facilities across the Commonwealth -- expanding access in areas that have long lacked adequate broadband service.
“I promised to connect every Pennsylvanian to high-speed, affordable internet by the end of the decade, and my Administration is working quickly to drive out hundreds of millions of dollars to meet that timeline,” said Governor Shapiro. “In the 21st century, reliable and affordable internet can’t just be a luxury for some connecting more Pennsylvanians to the internet will help kids achieve more in school, small business owners connect with potential customers, and families see the doctor when they can’t travel. We’ve already connected nearly 200,000 households to the internet in the last several years and now we’re working to connect the remaining 133,000 households in the next four years.”