Following up on plans that were set in motion in 2023, Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority (PBDA) Executive Director Brandon Carson has announced the release of $1.16 billion in federal BEAD funds. The broadband infrastructure monies allocated to Pennsylvania’s continuing digital access outreach represent “Volume II” of a plan previously approved by NTIA, reports GovTech.
“Since Pennsylvania was awarded $1.16 billion in BEAD funding last summer, the PBDA has been working to provide the resources Pennsylvanians need to make ‘Internet for all’ a reality across the Commonwealth and close the digital divide in Pennsylvania — and today’s NTIA approval of our Volume II is an important milestone in that effort,” stated Carson. “Now PBDA can take the next steps toward identifying the sub-grantees who will construct the infrastructure necessary to connect the 276,000 households, businesses, schools, and libraries across Pennsylvania who do not have access to broadband at all.”
With the launch of the Initial Proposal — Volume II phase, the PBDA now has one year to submit a Final Proposal to the NTIA. This report will document the outcome of the sub-grantee selection process and how the state will work to bring broadband service to all unserved and under-served locations. The NTIA will need to approve the Final Proposal so that the PBDA can move ahead with its four-year implementation process to connect communities across the Commonwealth.
“Today, Pennsylvania can move its Internet for All efforts from planning to action,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson. “I congratulate the Pennsylvania State Broadband office for developing a strong proposal for how they will connect all of the state’s residents to high-speed Internet service.”
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