Lehigh Times

Gov. Tom Wolf and U.S. Department of Commerce Under Secretary Jed Kolko were at Marion-Walker Elementary in Centre County on May 18, where they spoke about the $45 billion Internet for All Initiative made possible through the Biden-Harris administration.

The initiative will help manage more than $100 million in federal funds to make affordable, high-speed internet possible for Pennsylvania residents, a recent release from the governor's office said. The Department of Commerce announced the launch last week, with the goal of providing affordable, reliable, high-speed internet for all Americans by the end of the decade.

“For more than 20 years, we’ve been talking about closing the digital divide in America,” Alan Davidson, assistant secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator, said in the release. “Now we finally have a chance to do it. Together, we can make sure that everyone in Pennsylvania has access to the affordable high-speed internet service they need to succeed in the 21st-century economy. I’m grateful to Governor Wolf and all the community leaders working to make this dream a reality for Pennsylvanians.”

The initiative comprises three programs that will build internet infrastructure, teach digital skills and provide technology to make sure that all Americans have access and skills needed to excel in today’s world. There was a focus on ensuring this for communities of color, rural communities and the elderly.

“This program and funding is going to change lives,” Wolf said. “We knew we had to be ready for the world of opportunity this would bring to the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Broadband Authority is actively preparing; poised and ready to deploy broadband and connect Pennsylvanians to a secure and successful future.”

The state will reportedly receive at least $100 million from the Broadband Equity, Access and Development Program. The Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority was created by Wolf and the Pennsylvania General Assembly to prepare for the funding. It was signed into law in December 2021 and is responsible for creating a statewide plan for broadband using state and federal funds alike, to ensure broadband will be expanded in unserved and underserved areas.

“President Biden’s Internet for All funding is a game-changer for the hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians who currently lack high-speed internet access,” Sen. Bob Casey said in the release. “This investment means that families can get connected, kids can do their homework and businesses can grow and thrive. This is the infrastructure law in action, and it’s only the beginning of the hundreds of millions of dollars coming to the commonwealth to better connect Pennsylvanians to the world.”

There are at least one-half million Pennsylvania residents without broadband, and that directly limits opportunities and hurts the economy. Rural counties and communities outside of the state’s largest cities are the most vulnerable. Last year, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development created the Unserved High-Speed Broadband Funding Program to deploy high-speed broadband infrastructure to unserved areas through $10 million in funds.