Submitted Article
More than 22,000 residents living in Bradford, Lycoming, Sullivan, Susquehanna and Union counties will gain access to high-speed broadband services due to $65,416,189 in funding from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), according to state Sen. Gene Yaw (PA 23rd District).
Yaw said the funding was awarded through the FCC’s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction, and will bring long-awaited access to many of the region’s un-served and under-served residents.
“Access to broadband, especially for those who tele-work, senior citizens, fire and emergency workers and students who are taking classes remotely has become even more crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Sen. Yaw said. “This funding will benefit thousands of my constituents who currently lack internet service.”
Following is a list of winning bidders in the 23rd Senate District, number of homes and businesses to be served, and total support for 10 years in Pennsylvania, by county:
Bradford County:
Co-op Connections Consortium; 4,499; $17,219,669
Frontier Communications Corporation, DIP; 1,271; $3,300,144
Space Exploration Technologies Corp.; 467; $783,868
Windstream Services LLC; 312; $1,558,501
Sullivan County:
Commnet Wireless, LLC; 751; $1,754,702
Frontier Communications Corporation, DIP; 2,748; $7,135,165
Susquehanna County:
Co-op Connections Consortium; 3,655; $13,593,349
Frontier Communications Corporation, DIP; 1,982; $5,146,251
Space Exploration Technologies Corp.; 65; $84,771
Lycoming County:
Co-op Connections Consortium; 1,016; $3,031,788
Frontier Communications Corporation, DIP; 145; $376,492
Space Exploration Technologies Corp.; 719; $605,981
Windstream Services LLC; 2,703; $7,473,484
Union County:
Windstream Services LLC; 2,003; $3,352,028
In total, the FCC will allocate $9.2 billion to 180 bidders, who will deploy high-speed broadband to more than 5.2 million unserved homes and businesses across the country. More information about the funding is available here.
For more state-related news and information, visit Senator Yaw’s website at www.SenatorGeneYaw.com or on Facebook and Twitter @SenatorGeneYaw.