Gov. Shapiro Announces $448 Million to Expand High-Speed Internet Across Pennsylvania

Governor Josh Shapiro visited Bald Eagle Area Middle and High School to announce $448 million in grants awarded across 50 Pennsylvania counties to expand high-speed internet access. The funding represents the first round of awards from Pennsylvania’s federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program.

Federal Grants Fund Broadband for Thousands of Homes

The statewide grants support 41 projects funded through the $711 million in federal BEAD allocations approved by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. In Centre and Mifflin counties, about 3,000 homes and businesses will be connected through projects managed by Centre WISP, Brightspeed, and Verizon. Verizon is investing $40 million alongside $28.85 million in BEAD funding for its regional project.

Statewide initiatives since 2022 have reduced the number of households lacking high-speed internet access by about 60%, dropping from 330,000 down to 133,000. In Centre County alone, approximately 3,200 homes and businesses have already been connected.

Bridging the Digital Divide

Shapiro highlighted rural communities such as the Bald Eagle Area School District, where approximately 20% of students lack reliable home internet access. Local leaders emphasized the economic and practical necessity of the expansion. Board of Commissioners Chair Mark Higgins noted that a 2021 study revealed more than 8,000 addresses in Centre County lacked reliable broadband before local and upcoming BEAD efforts.

Reliable internet means kids and young people can do their homework, and parents can see their doctors, and small businesses can compete statewide, nationally and internationally, Higgins said.

Greg Scott, president and CEO of the Chamber of Business and Industry of Centre County, described high-speed internet as essential infrastructure necessary for economic growth and competitiveness.

New Website Tracks Broadband Connection Progress

The Shapiro administration launched pa.gov/ConnectPA, a website featuring a map where residents can check when the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority expects their specific area to receive a connection. Shapiro stated that BEAD funding will help connect all remaining unserved locations by 2030.