Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority Approves Comprehensive Five-Year Action Plan To Expand Access Across the Commonwealth

Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority (PBDA) Executive Director Brandon Carson announced the approval of the five-year action plan to expand internet access across the Commonwealth using $1.16 billion in funding through the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. Governor Josh Shapiro recently announced the Commonwealth’s BEAD allocation as part of President Biden’s “Internet for All” initiative. Shaped by feedback from Pennsylvanians, the BEAD five-year action plan is now with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) for approval.

The PBDA’s findings encouraged collaboration across the Commonwealth through direct engagement with residents, businesses, and industry partners and the plan was developed with input from 21 community conversations across the state and more than 500 participants. Three roundtable sessions gathered feedback from digital equity stakeholders, workforce development professionals, and internet service providers. The Five-Year Action Plan also includes a survey that collected 5,920 responses in-person and online in several different languages and a public comment period that ran from July 26th through August 8th yielded 526 comments on the draft Action Plan. Together, this public feedback will allow the Commonwealth to drive out resources in an affordable and equitable way for all Pennsylvanians.

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