Comcast is expanding fiber-based broadband support throughout Marshall and Pine Townships. Construction is underway and when completed is expected to allow approximately 3,000 homes and businesses to utilize either Xfinity residential services or Comcast Business services.
“This project, in addition to our expansion in Cranberry Township, provides important broadband connections that support the educational, professional and personal lives of Route 19 corridor residents,” said Ricky Frazier Jr., Comcast’s Keystone Region senior vice president, in a prepared statement. “We are committed to connecting local communities and offering competitive choices for reliable, high-speed broadband services that residents and businesses deserve.”
The company initially brought Comcast Business internet services to Cranberry, Marshall and Pine Township in 2020. In July of last year it began construction to bring Xfinity residential services to Cranberry. This construction remains ongoing.
Earlier this month, the company increased average internet speeds across the country for no additional charge. The Xfinity Connect plan increased speeds from 75 megabits per second to 150 mbps, Connect More plan increased from 200 mbps to 300 Mbps and Fast plan increased from 400 mbps to 500 mbps. Their Xfinity Prepaid plan saw the largest increase, from averaging 50 mbps to 200 mbps.
These changes came ahead of the Federal Communications Commission raising the definition of broadband download speeds from 25 Mbps to 100 Mbps. The FCC previously launched an inquiry to make this increase in November of 2023.
It is unclear if Comcast made these changes in response to the definition change, but Emily Waldorf, Comcast Consumer Internet Services senior vice president, indicated that another FCC related program had an impact.
The FCC has provided funding to eligible households to receive a discount on their internet bills as part of the Affordable Connectivity Program. In 2021 funding for this program topped $14 billion. That funding is expected to run out in the coming months, with an estimated 23 million people expected to be affected.
“With the potential that funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program will not be renewed, this year we have really leaned into boosting speeds for these customers so that they can take advantage of these new capabilities,” Waldorf said in a prepared statement.
