Rep. Snyder applauds PUC efforts to take jurisdiction of utility pole attachments

State Rep. Pam Snyder (D-50th District) said Monday that the state Public Utility Commission’s (PUC) recent action to assume jurisdiction over utility pole attachments could help improve access to high-speed internet.

The PUC recently voted to begin rulemaking to enable it to take jurisdiction of the attachments. This duty has defaulted to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) because the state has not assumed it.

“If the commonwealth takes this over, as we hope, Pennsylvania can have more of a direct say in the infrastructure development needed to expand broadband to rural areas,” Snyder said. “That would benefit residents, hospitals, schools, and businesses as they compete in the high-tech era.”

800,000 Pennsylvanians, many of whom live in rural areas, lack access to modern broadband internet.

Snyder, along with state Rep. Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York), introduced a package of bills and resolutions aimed at expanding access to modern broadband internet.

In March, Gov. Tom Wolf announced a commitment to expanding high-speed internet access and created the Pennsylvania Office of Broadband Initiatives, which will develop and implement a statewide strategy to expand access to every Pennsylvanian by 2022.

He also announced the creation of the Pennsylvania Broadband Investment Incentive Program, which will provide approximately $35 million in financial incentives to private bidders in the Federal Communications Commission’s upcoming Connect America Fund Phase II Auction.