Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf launched Pennsylvania’s Broadband Development Authority to manage the more than $100 million in federal aid that will be used to roll out broadband across the state.
The Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority is made of an 11-member board that includes the secretaries of the Pennsylvania Departments of Agriculture, Community and Economic Development, Education, General Services, and Budget. It also includes the executive director for the Center for Rural Pennsylvania, the chair from the Pennsylvania Utilities Commission, and four legislative members.
“Broadband is as essential today as electricity and water. But there is a digital divide in Pennsylvania,” Wolf said at the launch this week. “This Broadband Authority will close the divide and ensure consistent, affordable, quality statewide broadband to keep children learning, businesses growing, and opportunities abounding for all Pennsylvanians.”
Wolf signed House Bill 2071 to officially approve the authority in December.
“Without reliable high-speed internet, kids can’t do their homework, and local businesses can’t compete,” U.S. Sen. Bob Casey said. “We passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to help solve this very problem. The formation of the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority, enacted into law by Gov. Wolf, is a critical step in Pennsylvania using the hundreds of millions of dollars coming to the commonwealth for broadband thanks to the infrastructure law. With access to high-speed internet, kids can keep up in school, small businesses can reach more customers, and families can stay connected. This is an investment in our communities, our children, and their future.”
The need for reliable broadband was exacerbated over the past two years as Pennsylvanians relied on virtual means of communication, work, and education. Rural counties, as well as communities outside of Pennsylvania’s biggest cities, are especially vulnerable. Overall, at least 500,000 Pennsylvanians are without broadband.
“While nearly every Pennsylvanian has likely experienced a dropped cell phone call or experienced frustration with an internet outage, our rural communities deal with this every day. Imagine learning in that environment, imagine working or running a business in that environment, imagine not having access to conduct medical research, or being denied equal access to quality doctors and mental health services that can be delivered via telemedicine. We cannot allow a child’s zip code to dictate their success,” Superintendent of Wyalusing Area School District Jason Bottiglieri, representing the Pennsylvania Association of Rural and Small Schools, said.
HB2071 was championed by a bipartisan group that included members of the Administration and the General Assembly.
“The creation of the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority is just the beginning step to connect millions of Pennsylvanians to high-speed internet. Now the commonwealth has a single entity that can solely focus on making sure that every resident has equal and affordable access to broadband, no matter where they live,” State Rep. Pam Snyder said. She was joined at the launch celebration by State Rep. Martin Causer and State Sen. John Kane.