State Rep. Carl Walker Metzgar | Pennsylvania 69th Legislative District
State Rep. Carl Walker Metzgar | Pennsylvania 69th Legislative District
A plan to secure over $1 billion in federal funding for broadband expansion across Pennsylvania has been approved by the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority. The multi-year initiative aims to improve internet access for hundreds of thousands of locations statewide.
"Broadband and high-speed internet access is a quality-of-life issue for millions of Pennsylvanians," stated Rep. Carl Walker Metzgar, House Republican designee to the authority. He emphasized that expanding broadband is vital for business, education, and healthcare, comparing it to rural electrification.
The five-year strategy, named "Connecting the Commonwealth," seeks to provide affordable broadband in unserved and underserved areas. It includes infrastructure expansion, partnerships with community institutions for digital literacy training, and strengthening affordability programs.
Approval of this plan secures $1.16 billion in federal resources earmarked for broadband expansion throughout Pennsylvania.
"This plan is crucial if we expect our children to be prepared to excel in life, to attract career-sustaining investment from business leaders, or provide life-saving care in rural hospitals," Metzgar added. He expressed pride in supporting the authority's decision and anticipation for its community impact.
The focus will be on nearly 300,000 currently unserved locations that lack modern high-speed broadband services.
The Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority was created by the Legislature to coordinate funding efforts for broadband development across the state.
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