Rep. Causer introduces bill to expand broadband in rural areas

Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint) introduced legislation Thursday to establish the Rural Pennsylvania Broadband Deployment Act in an attempt to bring broadband infrastructure and connectivity to the rural communities in the 67th Legislative District and across the Northern Tier.

“Access to high-speed internet is not a luxury but a necessity for our students and teachers, our farmers and business owners, and our doctors and patients,” Causer said. “With the issue finally getting the attention it deserves, both the president and the governor have pledged funding to address broadband infrastructure, and we need to make sure those dollars are invested in communities like ours where they are needed the most.”

A new fund within the State Treasury would be established under House Bill 2293, into which federal and other funding can be deposited for the explicit purpose of deploying broadband infrastructure. The bill would also create an advisory board within the Department of Community and Economic Development. This advisory board would be responsible for investigating and making recommendations for improved broadband deployment as well as solicit, review, recommend proposals to use the funding available.

“It is important to have the fund and advisory board in place to ensure dollars dedicated to rural broadband deployment are directed to the most underserved areas of the Commonwealth,” Causer said.

Causer also made note Thursday of additional rural broadband initiatives under review in the House, such as conducting of an in-depth investigation and audit into the compliance of non-rural telecommunications carriers with Act 67 of 1993 and Act 183 of 2004. Another bill under consideration involves taking inventory of state department, agency, commission or institution-owned communication towers, poles, buildings and facilities to review state-owned assets and determine how they can help unserved or underserved areas.

House Bill 2293 has now been referred to the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee for further consideration.