The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) is teaming up with several organizations to improve broadband in a 10-county area, reported the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. SPC, in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh’s Allies for Children, and others, will use $65 billion in federal funds to improve infrastructure.
The new initiative will serve Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Washington, Westmoreland counties, and Pittsburgh. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, for the past year, SPC has worked behind the scenes in these areas to identify dead spots, underserved locations, and residents who can’t afford broadband.
The program — called SWPA Connected — received funding from the Hillman Family Foundations and developed a series of maps highlighting service (or lack thereof) in various neighborhoods. On Monday, SWPA Connected launched a survey for “users and would-be users” to provide input regarding their broadband experiences, including any shortcomings.
SPC is believed to be the only regional planning agency nationwide involved in a broadband program. “It’s definitely something new we’re taking on…for the entire region,” Shannon O’Connell, director of SPC’s Office of Communications & Public Engagement told the Post-Gazette. She added that quality broadband is “the new mobility” in reference to the need to work and learn from home.
According to Jamie Baxter, executive director of Allies for Children, “Our work is to make sure we have a clear picture of the needs. As money comes down from Washington, we need to make sure we have a plan. That’s why we’re working on this piece now, so we know truly what the needs are when the money becomes available.”
Carnegie Mellon’s role will help develop the technical needs and craft proposed policies for using the federal funds, said Karen Lightman, executive director of the university’s Metro 21: Smart Cities Institute. She added that the initiative would strongly emphasize equity, making sure everyone has equal access to the same quality of service and can afford it.
“It’s not going to be one size meets all needs,” she added. “Sometimes a different type of technology might be needed to service an area. Instead of fiber optic, maybe it’s satellite.” Lightman anticipates that improvements could start as early as 2023.
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