Matzie urges local governments, nonprofits and service providers to participate in broadband survey
BEAD Challenge will ensure high-speed internet funding reaches underserved areas
Rep. Robert Matzie April 25, 2024 | 2:13 PM
AMBRIDGE, April 25 – With more than $1 billion coming to expand high-speed internet in Pennsylvania, state Rep. Robert Matzie is urging local governments, nonprofit organizations and internet service providers to participate in a critical survey to ensure those dollars reach their intended targets.
Matzie – a board member on the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority and majority chairman of the House Consumer Protection, Technology and Utilities Committee – said the BEAD Challenge will provide essential feedback to ensure the new funding is allocated properly.
“With major broadband infrastructure in place and new funding of more than $1 billion on the way, PA is finally poised to bring essential high-speed internet connections to the unserved and underserved areas that so desperately need them,” Matzie said. “But it’s critical to ensure that the funding goes to the areas where it’s most needed. We have to get this right.
“I’m urging local governments, nonprofits and service providers to complete the BEAD Challenge to ensure those dollars are put to the best use.”
Matzie said complete information about how to submit a BEAD Challenge is available at this page: https://www.broadband.pa.gov/funding/broadband-equity-access-and-deployment-bead-program/bead-challenge-process/.
The new broadband funding comes from the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment, commonly referred to as BEAD, Program. Under the program, Pennsylvania is required to conduct a map challenge to determine which locations throughout the state are eligible for funded networks. Any changes to the existing broadband map will be based on information gathered during the challenge process.
The existing map can be viewed here: https://register.broadband.pa.gov/register/bead/map.
Matzie played a key role in the creation of the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority, which was established in late 2021 to oversee grant funding and infrastructure deployment to bring high-speed internet to unserved and underserved areas of the commonwealth. He also introduced first-of-its-kind legislation that has increased access to 5G technology statewide.