PITTSBURGH, PA – The PA Broadband Development Authority met on Friday, August 22, at 10 a.m. to award grants from the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program.
These grants will generate over $1.3 Billion in infrastructure spending that will create jobs, fuel economic growth, and provide broadband to the 130,000 Pennsylvania homes and businesses that currently lack service. More information on the program can be found here.
“In our modern hyperconnected world, access to the internet is a critical lifeline, allowing people to access knowledge, news, support, and so much more,” said Senator Costa. “I am so proud to be announcing funding that will connect workers with jobs, families with relatives, and learners to the wide world of information. I look forward to these dollars going to good use in our communities.”
In the 43rd Senatorial District, the following grant was awarded:
Broadband Providers: Comcast
Location: Portions of SD 43
Amount of Grant: $440,132
Type of technology: Hybrid Fiber
Additional information about this round of BEAD Awards is as follows:
- Number of unique awardees: 21
- Total amount of BEAD Grant dollars recommended for award: $793,494,747
- Total amount of Private Sector match to BEAD Grant dollars: $650 million in private sector match. Far exceeds 25% minimum match requirement. Why? Companies wanted to be competitive. Private Companies are providing a cumulative 80% match to the BEAD grant dollars.
- Total Number of BSL’s served: 130,000.
- Technology Type:
- Fiber Projects (Best, most reliable and scalable) = 14
- Fixed Wireless = 3
- Partial Fiber Projects = 2
- Satellite = 2
All projects remain subject to NTIA approval and acceptance by the applicants. Adjustments may be required during NTIA’s review of the Final Proposal, and applicants may also choose not to move forward with certain projects or project areas. In such cases, selections may shift to the next-ranked applicant/project. As a result, provisional selections—and the overall BEAD spend—are subject to change.
Learn about the PA Senate Democrats’ commitment to every Pennsylvanian here.