Westmoreland County officials are asking residents to submit any challenges to the released draft of a broadband map from the FCC that will influence how much funding Pennsylvania will get from the federal infrastructure bill to expand internet service.
The pre-production draft of the national broadband map, published in November, aims to show the home and business locations where broadband internet services are available across the country. The FCC has collected this information from internet service providers, though the public is welcome to challenge any potential discrepancies.
"Pennsylvania’s allocation of funding for broadband deployment under the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is dependent on the accuracy of the map," the Westmoreland Broadband Program, which is managing the broadband internet expansion efforts in the county, said in a press release. "Westmoreland residents and business owners are encouraged to enter their home or business address to determine whether the information listed on the map is accurate by Jan. 13, 2023. If incorrect or missing data is found, individual challenges can be submitted through the new national broadband map based on location points and broadband availability."
In addition to self reports submitted by its residents, Westmoreland County will also submit bulk challenges to the data as a result of information obtained from its Data Collection and Feasibility Study, which is nearing its final stages of completion.
Westmoreland County is one of several local counties that have been adamant about expanding broadband internet service within its borders following the establishment of $65 billion in federal funds for nationwide broadband infrastructure deployment. That funding came as part of President Joe Biden's signature Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act legislation, which was passed by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by Biden in November 2021.
In February 2022, Gov. Tom Wolf launched the Broadband Development Authority to manage $100 million in federal aid that's being sought for the commonwealth-wide rollout of high-speed internet.
