Pennsylvania Frees $700M for Rural Broadband After Wage Condition Removed
Federal officials dropped a wage-classification شرط, clearing Pennsylvania to spend more than $700 million to connect roughly 130,000 homes and businesses.
- Pennsylvania can move ahead with spending more than $700 million on expanding high-speed internet in rural areas after federal officials removed a disputed labor wage condition from the funding agreement in late April.
- The impasse stemmed from a long-running dispute over how workers installing fiber-optic cable should be classified under Pennsylvania's prevailing wage law, with Verizon and the Broadband Communications Association of Pennsylvania arguing the state's 'electric lineman' classification unnecessarily drove up costs.
- Removing this roadblock allows the Broadband Development Authority to connect roughly 130,000 homes and businesses, with Pennsylvania having six months to sign contracts and four years to deliver service.
- Separately, it remains unclear how the state will spend about $400 million in leftover funding following Trump administration cost-cutting measures, though Gov. Josh Shapiro created a unit to fast-track major project permits.
- Most locations will receive fiber-optic connections, but almost one-quarter will rely on satellite internet due to Trump-era policy changes, and the Information Administration requires states to process broadband permits within 90 days.
19 Articles
19 Articles
Associated Press News
Pa. can move ahead with broadband expansion after feds back down on wage dispute
Pennsylvania can move ahead with spending more than $700 million on expanding high-speed internet in rural areas, after federal officials backed down from a threat to withhold the money because of a dispute over state labor law.
Pennsylvania cleared to spend $700M on broadband expansion
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania can move ahead with spending more than $700 million on expanding high-speed internet in rural areas, after federal officials backed down from a threat to withhold the money because of a dispute over state labor law. The reversal removes what could have been a major roadblock to connecting roughly 130,000 Pennsylvania homes and businesses that still can’t get broadband. In a statement, a spokesperson for the Department o…
PA Can Move Ahead with Broadband Expansion After Feds Back Down on Wage Dispute
PA now has four years to make the faster internet services available to residents. By Charlotte Keith, Spotlight PA Pictured above: A cellular tower in rural Pennsylvania. Photo courtesy of Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PA Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. Sign up for our free newsletters. …
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