Governor Tom Wolf is promoting a new group managing the rollout of broadband internet across the state.
The Broadband Development Authority will oversee $100 million in federal aid to help more people get internet access. Wolf said there's still a digital divide in Pennsylvania.
“That’s a really big investment that we really need to make in our future and in our prosperity. It’s essential. It’s essential today as water, electricity have been.”
State data shows about 500,000 residents are without broadband.
In 2021, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development launched the Unserved High-Speed Broadband Funding Program.
The goal was to aide unserved areas with $10 million of funding.
“Without reliable high-speed internet, kids can’t do their homework and local businesses can’t compete,” said U.S. Senator Bob Casey. “We passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to help solve this very problem.
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