Office of Broadband Initiatives Acting Executive Director Sheri Collins and representatives from Pennsylvania’s business, education, and municipal sectors recently joined Gov. Tom Wolf at a press conference at the Capitol.
The participants discussed their challenges with broadband access and the Restore Pennsylvania proposal, which aims to expand high-speed internet access.
“One of the biggest challenges holding back Pennsylvania’s economy is lack of universal broadband access,” Governor Wolf said. “Everyone here today told us about how the negative effects of not having access are numerous and far-reaching. Thankfully, we have a plan in Restore Pennsylvania that can provide the funds necessary to expand access to high-speed internet to everyone.”
Restore Pennsylvania, a $4.5 billion proposal that would be funded through a severance tax, would provide funding to support the installation of infrastructure to bring high-speed internet to all Pennsylvanians.
Almost a million Pennsylvanians lack access to robust, reliable, high-speed internet, according to the Federal Communications Commission.
“Fast-growth, digitally-native businesses like ours are extremely dependent on broadband internet,” Todd Wolfenberg, CEO of Yoga International based in Honesdale, Wayne County, said. “Those businesses can only grow and recruit top talent if high-speed internet is readily available. This is a challenge in Wayne County and many other areas of the state. We support the Restore Pennsylvania initiative because we know firsthand that those who don’t have high-speed access will get left behind—and that businesses will have a harder time competing in an increasingly global marketplace.”
According to a report published last month by the Center for Rural Pennsylvania, internet connectivity speeds are significantly slower in rural counties than in urban ones.
“One of the main goals of Tri-County Rural Electric Cooperative and Tri-Co Connections is to deliver high-speed fiber optic internet services to the unserved and underserved homes, farms and businesses across rural Northcentral Pennsylvania,” Craig Eccher, president and CEO of Tri-County Rural Electric Cooperative, said. “We expect the availability of broadband internet service to spur economic development in our region, creating opportunities in areas such as telemedicine, education, teleworking and opening doors for future business ventures. Restore Pennsylvania will ensure the construction of desperately-needed rural broadband infrastructure continues to be built across the commonwealth.”