Pennsylvania has secured $20 million federal investment to provide technology devices such as laptops for distribution to schools, libraries, municipalities, workforce training organizations and other nonprofits who can make them available to individuals that lack the technology needed to access the internet. It is the commonwealth’s final disbursement of American Rescue Plan Capital Projects Funding, Gov. Josh Shapiro’s office said.
“When communities don’t have reliable broadband access, they often rely on anchor institutions like libraries, schools and community centers to provide it,” Brandon Carson, executive director of the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority, said in a prepared statement. “With that comes a need for updated resources, including quality devices. With this investment the commonwealth will launch a new program to help ensure children and adults alike have the technology they need to learn remotely, access telemedicine and fully participate in our digital economy.”
Pennsylvania’s digital connectivity program is being developed with input from community stakeholders and the state is in the process of developing a streamlined approach to purchase and distribute the devices to community partners like small libraries and municipalities.” PBDA anticipates opening the program later in 2024.
Across Pennsylvania more than 276,000 households, businesses, schools, and libraries don’t have access to broadband. Through the federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program, the commonwealth will receive more than $1.16 billion in federal funding to expand broadband in unserved and underserved areas to make sure every Pennsylvanian has access to affordable, high-speed internet. The state also received $200 million in funding through the Capital Projects Fund Broadband Infrastructure Program to connect unserved/underserved areas and $45 million through the Multi-Purpose Community Facilities Program for community projects to construct, acquire or improve facilities that are open to the public and will directly enable work, education and health monitoring.
