Pennsylvania Awards $448 Million in Grants to Expand High-Speed Internet Access
Governor Josh Shapiro and the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority (PBDA) have announced over $448 million in Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) grants. These funds are allocated to projects across 50 counties in Pennsylvania, aiming to provide reliable, high-speed internet to 71,000 homes and businesses. This initiative is part of a broader effort to achieve universal internet access throughout the Commonwealth by 2030. The Shapiro Administration's work has already reduced the number of households lacking high-speed internet by nearly 60 percent, from over 330,000 in 2022 to less than 133,000 currently. A new website, pa.gov/ConnectPA, has been launched to allow Pennsylvanians to track when they can expect to receive a connection. Leaders from various sectors, including CEOs, representatives, and project managers, have expressed strong support for the initiative, highlighting its potential to boost economic growth, improve healthcare access through telehealth, and enhance educational ...