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Pa. plan to distribute $1.16B in federal broadband funds approved by state officials
A man fills out an online application during a job fair hosted by the city of Chicago in July 2012. The fair offered computer access to people who do not have internet access (Scott Olson/Getty Images).
A plan to distribute more than a billion dollars in federal funds to build and expand broadband infrastructure across Pennsylvania has been approved by the state agency overseeing the effort, according to state officials.
State Rep. Carl Walker Metzgar, R-Somerset, who serves on the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority, said the five-year action plan to bring broadband access to nearly 300,000 unserved and underserved areas of the commonwealth, was unanimously approved by the Authority on Thursday.
While Metzgar called the Authority’s approval of the plan “a huge step forward,” it must still receive federal approval before funding can be allocated to projects across Pennsylvania. State officials have previously said they intend to submit the plan for federal approval by Aug. 12.
“This plan is crucial if we expect our children to be prepared to excel in life, to attract career-sustaining investment from business leaders, or provide life-saving care in rural hospitals,” Metzgar said. “I am proud to support the authority in approving this plan and look forward to the impact this will have on our community.”
How Pennsylvania plans to deploy $1.16B allocated for broadband expansion
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