PENNSYLVANIA — Broadband internet is necessary for Pennsylvanians to do their jobs, to participate equally in school learning, health care, and to stay connected. Pennsylvania has had a serious problem regarding affordable, reliable high-speed internet for years and this last year made the cost of these disparities painfully clear. Thankfully, with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, President Biden has shown that tackling Pennsylvania’s “digital divide” and bringing affordable, reliable, high-speed broadband to every Pennsylvanian in every county is a top priority for his administration.
“President Biden’s brokered a Bipartisan Infrastructure law that will energize Pennsylvania and bring broadband coverage to every corner of our commonwealth ,” said PA Dems spokesperson Rosie Lapowsky. “There will be no more bad connections or slow service that keeps our businesses from working online — and Biden’s plan will make sure our networks are always up-to-date. It is past time that we allow our businesses, students and health care workers to have a fighting chance in Pennsylvania.”
Broadband is about more than just internet access. It’s about grade school children falling behind in school, working folks fresh out of college who need to find jobs, and elderly Pennsylvanians who can’t access telehealth for medical care. Reliable broadband access will help our local economies thrive here in Pennsylvania. Studies show that lack of reliable internet damages our economic growth. Our low broadband ranking means companies will be less likely to relocate to our region to establish their business.
Under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Pennsylvania will receive a minimum allocation of $100 million to help provide broadband coverage across the state, including providing access to the at least 394,000 Pennsylvanians who currently lack it. And 2,917,000 or 23% of people in Pennsylvania will be eligible for the Affordability Connectivity Benefit, which will help low-income families afford internet access.
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