Conklin: More than $17 million awarded to strengthen Centre County broadband
With matching funds, project will total nearly $40 million
Rep. Scott Conklin April 19, 2024 | 2:45 PM
STATE COLLEGE, April 19 – Faster, more reliable broadband is coming to underserved areas of Centre County thanks to new funding of nearly $17.6 million from the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority, state Rep. Scott Conklin, D-Centre, announced today.
Conklin, who is majority chairman of the House Commerce Committee, said the funding – which includes $16.1 million to Verizon Pennsylvania LLC and $1.5 million to Windstream Pennsylvania LLC – will bring residents and small business owners in underserved areas the connections they need.
“Internet provides essential connections to the world, but for too long, residents lacking speedy, reliable access have faced a disadvantage when it comes to key online resources for job opportunities, training and education, shopping, telemedicine and more,” Conklin said. “Small businesses in underserved areas also lose a major competitive edge.
“We have worked hard to get the necessary broadband infrastructure in place, and with this new infusion of funding, we can finally make those critical high-speed connections a reality for the residents and businesses who need them.”
Conklin said that matching funding will bring the total project to nearly $40 million.
The funding – which is part of a statewide package awarded under the Broadband Infrastructure Program – will also benefit underserved communities in Blair, Clearfield and Huntingdon counties. More about the funding is available here: https://www.broadband.pa.gov/shapiro-administration-invests-204-million-in-federal-funding-to-provide-40000-homes-and-businesses-affordable-and-reliable-high-speed-internet-across/.