Bradford County is expected to receive more than $73 million for broadband access through the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. The announcement was made by Representatives Tina Pickett and Clint Owlett, who represent districts in Bradford, Wyoming, and Tioga counties.
The BEAD program is focused on expanding affordable high-speed internet access by supporting planning, deployment, mapping, equity, and adoption efforts. The funding aims to address connectivity gaps in rural areas of Pennsylvania.
“This funding will help bring digital access to our communities and will benefit our educational, government and health care services in rural areas,” said Pickett. “I am pleased with such a substantial investment in the development of broadband all across Pennsylvania.”
“Quality high-speed broadband has been and continues to be a priority. I’m thankful to see these tax dollars coming back to our area to make sure we are connected,” Owlett said. “This will be a game changer for the Northern Tier!”
Statewide, the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority has given provisional approval for $793 million in projects aimed at expanding broadband service. Several providers were awarded funds for these efforts, including Central Bradford Progress Authority, Amazon Kuiper, Centre WISP Venture Company LLC, Claverack Communications LLC, Comcast, Commonwealth Telephone Company LLC, eCommunity Holdings LLC, IBT Group USA LLC, SpaceX, Upward Broadband LLC, and Verizon.
The initiative is part of ongoing work by state authorities to close the digital divide across Pennsylvania’s underserved communities.
