Funding will help Commonwealth bridge technological divide in underserved areas
Washington, D.C. - Today Senators Arlen Specter and Bob Casey announced that the Department of Commerce has awarded two major grants to Pennsylvania, totaling nearly $130 million, to develop broadband technology across the state. The funding is included in the Recovery Act of 2009.
“Access to the internet is critical in today’s world and these investments will help bridge the digital divide so that all Pennsylvanians can be connected to a solid communications infrastructure,” Specter said. “This funding is great news for Pennsylvania as it will create jobs, spur investments in technology, and provide long-term economic benefits to the region.”
“This funding to develop broadband technology is further proof that the Recovery Act is working for Pennsylvanians,” said Senator Casey. “These projects will expand access to broadband technology and enhance communication throughout the Commonwealth which will create jobs and spur economic activity.”
The Keystone Initiative for Network Based Education and Research will receive $99,660,678 to develop the Pennsylvania Research and Education Network (PennREN). When completed, PennREN will be a nearly 1,700-mile fiber network that will expand broadband Internet access and directly connect 60 community anchor institutions in 39 underserved counties across South and Central Pennsylvania, including public and private universities, K–12 schools, public libraries, public broadcasting facilities, and medical facilities. As a result, PennREN will enhance healthcare delivery, research, education, workforce development, and public safety. According to the Department of Commerce, wholesale services offered are expected to spur the offering of affordable broadband access for more than 2 million households, more than 200,000 businesses, and nearly 1,700 additional anchor institutions.
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will also receive $28,784,014 for Enhancing Connectivity in Northern Pennsylvania. The project seeks to increase broadband internet connection speeds for community anchor institutions and underserved areas isolated by difficult, mountainous terrain across the northern half of the state. 32 counties in the east-west corridor of Pennsylvania north of Interstate 80, including the cities of Titusville, Dubois, Scranton, and Wilkes-Barre, will be connected to a shared broadband backbone and public internet. The project will enhance the interoperability of public safety communications across the region, improve health and safety services, and allow emergency medical service providers to connect to trauma and medical specialists quickly and reliably.
Today’s announcements are part of a larger Recovery Act initiative that directed $7.2 billion to the Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service (RUS) and the Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA) to expand broadband access to unserved and underserved communities across the U.S. For more information on the broadband initiatives, please visit http://broadbandusa.gov/index.htm
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