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‘It’s a Necessity.’ Gov. Wolf, U.S. Commerce Under Secretary Visit Centre County to Discuss Internet for All Initiative

At least half a million Pennsylvanians do not have access to high-speed Internet, but an infusion of more than $100 million in federal money aims to lower that number substantially in the coming years.

Gov. Tom Wolf and U.S. Department of Commerce Under Secretary Jed Kolko visited Marion-Walker Elementary School near Bellefonte on Wednesday morning to discuss the Biden administration’s $45 billion Internet for All initiative to connect everyone in America to affordable and reliable high-speed internet over the next decade.

“This connectivity will give Pennsylvanians more opportunities to find a job, to take online classes, access health care, expand your business and visit with your grandchildren and your grandparents,” Kolko said. “The pandemic really shed new light on what many already knew: access to affordable, reliable high-speed internet is not a luxury; it’s a necessity. We learned during the pandemic that for many it’s not just a necessity; it’s a lifeline.”

Launched last week and funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed last year, the Internet for All Initiative is comprised of three components. The largest of those is the $42.5 billion Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program to develop high-speed internet infrastructure, particularly in unserved and underserved areas throughout the country.

Another $1 billion is designated for Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program to connect local networks with high-capacity national and regional networks. The Digital Equity Act Programs provide $2.75 billion for planning and project grants to ensure people have skills, technology and access.

U.S. Commerce Under Secretary Jed Kolko, pictured with Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, speaks about the federal Internet for All initiative on Wednesday, May 18, at Marion-Walker Elementary School. Photo by Geoff Rushton | StateCollege.com

Separately, the federal government launched last week the Affordable Connectivity Program, a $14 billion initiative to help low-income households pay for

“​​Broadband is essential in today’s society,” Wolf said. “Our lack of consistent, affordable broadband keeps children from learning effectively… it prevents businesses from growing. It limits job markets for workers, and it reduces medical care options open to patients all across the state.”

Pennsylvania is among the first states to sign on to the Internet for All initiative and so far 34 states and territories have declared their intent to participate. An initial $5 million to develop a five-year plan and each state with an approved plan will receive $100 million, with the rest of the available funds allocated by need.

Kolko said the initiative mandates extensive local coordination.

“We can’t accomplish without leaders in schools, libraries, hospitals and other vital institutions speaking up about what they need and what their neighbors need,” he said.

Joy Miller, a Bellefonte Area School District psychologist and parent, knows well the challenges of poor internet connectivity. Her neighborhood has access to two service providers that offer inconsistent and slow connections.

That “constant struggle” came into sharp focus during the COVID-19 pandemic, with kids trying to do school work while she did her job. Her son also has a chronic medical condition that means he misses school from time to time and needs to do work from home. His frequent and often out-of-town doctor’s appointments would be made easier with reliable internet for televisits, as well.

Joy Miller speaks about the challenges of unreliable internet service on Wednesday, May 18, at Marion-Walker Elementary School. Photo by Geoff Rushton | StateCollege.com

She’s tried everything the service provider recommends and pays for the highest available speed, but still finds herself calling about service problems multiple times a week.

“We just keep hearing the same thing over and over again for many, many years,” Miller said. “We’re in a moderately populated area. It’s a growing area. In the past 20 years we’ve seen more and more expansion in not just our neighborhood but our surrounding area. We’re all having that issue. It’s not just our household; it’s the neighbors across the street or a couple of miles down the road.”

For some Pennsylvania residents, it’s not just a matter of speed, but any connection at all. More than 219,000 households in rural Pennsylvania don’t have internet access, Kyle Kopko, executive director of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania, said. Some 178,000 households don’t have a computer.

“While I’m pleased to say there’s been progress in recent years in broadband expansion efforts, particularly in our rural areas, there’s still much more that needs to be done,” Kopko said. “…We have our work cut out for ourselves, to say the least.”

He called the Internet for All initiative a “once in a generation opportunity to help bridge the digital divide.”

Kopko is also one of 11 members of the Pennsylvania Broadband Authority, developed through a bipartisan effort between the Wolf administration and the General Assembly. The authority will oversee the Internet for All funding and broadband expansion programs throughout the state.

Wolf described the authority as one of several successes during his tenure as governor to expand high-speed internet access in Pennsylvania.

In 2018, the Pennsylvania Broadband Investment Incentive Program launched to provide $35 million for expanding broadband in rural areas. Last year, the Department of Community and Economic Development created the Unserved High Speed Broadband Funding Program, a $10 million grant program to support deployment of broadband infrastructure to unserved areas.

The Internet for All funding, however, will be the biggest boost to date.

“This money is going to make an enormous difference to communities all across Pennsylvania,” Wolf said. “It’s going to open a whole world of new opportunities for all of us. This money is going to put our commonwealth on a path to a much brighter future.”

Gov. Tom Wolf, U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce Jed Kolko and Bellefonte Area School District Superintendent Tammie Burnaford laugh during a press conference on Wednesday, May 18, at Marion-Walker Elementary School. Photo by Geoff Rushton | StateCollege.com