HARRISBURG, PA – State Senator James Andrew Malone (D-36, Lancaster) today announced that the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority awarded $2,381,691 in grants from the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program (BEAD) for fiber, hybrid fiber, and LEO satellite service in portions of Senate District 36. Grants were awarded to providers including Amazon Kuiper Satellite, Brightspeed, Comcast, Commonwealth Telephone Co., Verizon, and SpaceX Satellite.
“Access to high-speed internet is critical for kids to learn and businesses to compete in the modern economy,” said Senator Malone. “I’m glad to see the historic, bipartisan investment in broadband expansion made under the Biden administration start to hit local projects here in Lancaster. These dollars are all being matched by private investment and will help expand internet access to people who lack it and provide faster internet to underserved communities. I look forward to seeing these dollars turn into more opportunities for my district.”
BEAD was created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to expand high-speed internet access to all Americans and is the largest federal broadband investment in U.S. history. It was signed into law by President Joe Biden in November 2021.
All projects remain subject to NTIA approval and acceptance by the applicants. Adjustments may be required during NTIA’s review of the Final Proposal, and applicants may also choose not to move forward with certain projects or project areas. In such cases, selections may shift to the next-ranked applicant/project. As a result, provisional selections—and the overall BEAD spend—are subject to change.