Raise your hand if you were your family’s in-house Geek Squad growing up. 🙋🏼♀️🖥️ Problem with the router? All you, baby. Mom lost her password again? Godspeed, warrior. 🫡
It’s been a hot minute since we checked in on PA’s plans to expand broadband access. ⚡ We’ve got some updates but spoiler alert: they kinda stink.
Here’s Five Fast Facts on broadband expansion in PA:
- ⏰ Late Notice - Federal officials let a December deadline float by without reviewing PA’s plans for broadband expansion. Thanks to the miss, hundreds of millions of dollars are on ice and related projects are stalled.
- 🤔 Waiting Game - The original goal was for the federal government to approve each state’s spending plans within 90 days of submission. So far, plans from 42 states and territories got the green light…but Pennsylvania’s one of 10 still waiting.
- 📑 Hold Up - Why the delay? We’re not totally sure. PA submitted their plan back in early September (now well past the 90 day promise). Maybe we should send Gritty to do a full investigation.
- 🔌 High-Speed History - Back in 2021, the largest-ever broadband grant program was created. The goal was to give everyone in the U.S. access to high-speed internet. When Trump began his second term, he revised the program rules around lowering costs. States then had 90 days to redo their applications.
- 💸 Super Saver - Thanks to the new rule changes, PA’s plan would be cheaper than originally planned. The first version called for $1.1 billion to get the job done. After the revision, it was cut down to roughly $790 million.
🔥Bottom line: We’re not sure what the hold up is, but they better stamp that approval soon! Mama needs speedier WiFi to fill her Amazon cart. Want some good Keystone State news? Unemployment might be high across the nation, but in PA things are looking up. Check out this article for the latest on Pennsylvania’s labor market.
How’s the WiFi in your neck of the woods?
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