From Beaver Falls to Pittston, Governor Shapiro highlights his administration’s plans to expand broadband access across the Commonwealth

Affordable, reliable and affordable broadband is important to every community and every household in this Commonwealth, regardless of postcode.

Harrisburg, PA In the past two weeks, Governor Josh Shapiro traveled to Beaver and Luzerne counties to highlight his administration’s plans to expand broadband infrastructure across the Commonwealth, providing every community with access to affordable, reliable, high-speed Internet.

Last month, Governor Shapiro announced that the Commonwealth will receive $1.16 billion in funding through the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program as part of President Biden’s Internet for All initiative. The $1.16 billion BEAD funding will be administered by the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority (PDA).

PBDA staff and leadership traveled the Commonwealth, hosting community engagement events to gather feedback to shape Pennsylvania’s broadband expansion plans and digital equity programs. The PBDA wants to hear from as many Pennsylvanians as possible as it works to make the Internet for all a reality in Pennsylvania and develops a five-year action plan to implement BEAD funding. In the past two weeks alone, PBDA has hosted community engagement events in Washington, Montour, Huntingdon, Erie, Lackawanna, Somerset, York and Center counties.

Read what Governor Shapiro, broadband officials and Pennsylvanians are saying about expanding broadband access across the Commonwealth:

• Governor Josh Shapiro: “When Pennsylvanians are connected to reliable broadband, they have better health outcomes, better educational outcomes, and better economic outcomes. That’s why we need to invest in broadband, right now, to grow our economy and strengthen our communities. Affordable, reliable and affordable broadband is important to every community and every household in this Commonwealth, regardless of postcode. My administration will continue to work with all of our partners at the local, state and federal levels to ensure we can deliver real opportunity to every student, business, worker and community in Pennsylvania.”

• PBDA Executive Director Brandon Carson: The nearly $1.2 billion in federal funding is a historic victory for Pennsylvania and will help provide the resources we need to finally make the Internet for All a reality so Pennsylvanians can live healthier, more successful lives . Under the Governor’s leadership, the Shapiro administration stands ready to do this work to connect every Pennsylvania citizen to affordable high-speed Internet.

• Barbara Cottam, Senior Advisor for Foreign Affairs of the NTIA: “We all know that today the Internet is not a luxury, it is a necessity. Governor Shapiro understands this and has made providing reliable and affordable high-speed Internet a priority of his administration. Importantly, he understands the jobs that come with the creation of the internet and has already begun providing funding for registered apprenticeship programs to train the workforce. Pennsylvania is thinking ahead.

• Pittston Memorial Library director Jessica Lane: We truly understand the importance and ultimate human right it has become in 21^st century to have sufficient access to broadband services. Much of the work we do with and for our clients relies on Internet access.

See what Pennsylvanians are reading about Governor Shapiro’s plans to ensure that every Pennsylvanian has access to affordable, high-speed broadband:

Times Leader: In Pittston, Shapiro plans in detail to bring high-speed broadband to all of Pennsylvania.