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Obstacles abound as Pa. plans for surge of federal broadband funding
Last edited Fri Aug 25, 2023, 08:55 AM - Edit history (1)
Spotlight PA link: https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2023/08/five-obstacles-pennsylvania-rural-broadband/
HARRISBURG — In the coming years, Pennsylvania will receive more than $1 billion in federal funding to bring high-speed internet access to everyone in the state. It’s a historic opportunity and a serious challenge, according to a new plan from the state Broadband Development Authority that outlines how it will accomplish that goal over the next five years.
The money comes from the wide-ranging bipartisan infrastructure bill signed into law by President Joe Biden in 2021. Pennsylvania will also receive an estimated $900 million for broadband from other federal programs and private investment required as a condition of grant funding.
Here are five obstacles Pennsylvania will have to navigate as it spends the money, according to the authority’s plan:
The money comes from the wide-ranging bipartisan infrastructure bill signed into law by President Joe Biden in 2021. Pennsylvania will also receive an estimated $900 million for broadband from other federal programs and private investment required as a condition of grant funding.
Here are five obstacles Pennsylvania will have to navigate as it spends the money, according to the authority’s plan:
1. Workforce shortages
2. Supply chain problems
3. Permits
4. The cost of an internet subscription
5. Limited competition among providers
- more at link -
Discussion provided for each item on the list. This is a thoughtful analysis done by Spotlight PA.
Let's face it, wouldn't more city-living Democrats be tempted to LIVE in RURAL areas, if there were reliable broadband and cable services available? The cost of living, buying a home, and raising a family is much lower in rural areas - for one thing. There are many more opportunities to grow your own food, if that's what you want to do. Once highspeed internet is available in the rural areas of our state, perhaps the younger generation won't be so quick to leave their farms and move to the cities.
Broadband is coming (finally) to the rural areas of Pennsylvania and our govt. leaders are working on how to make this happen.
Edit to add: here's the link to Pennsylvania's 5-year plan to rollout broadband for all: https://dced.pa.gov/download/bead-five-year-action-plan/?wpdmdl=120962&refresh=64e3750c46f561692628236&ind=1691779432964&filename=BEAD-5-YearStrategyReport_2023-1.pdf
