Why is "Broadband Connectivity" in the News?

No other issue touches so many aspects of local government -- from economic development, to community planning, to expanding educational opportunities and building government transparency and engaging residents and other stakeholders in community decision-making.

In response to COVID-19, schools have closed, and non-essential government employees have been instructed to work from home. These necessary changes in daily life require a necessary service – reliable broadband connectivity and access.

The ability of local governments to conduct business in compliance with state statutes that require the physical presence of the governing body and land development applicants, the general public, and other interested parties -- in person -- was recently hampered by public health officials discouraging such face-to face contact. For a while, in-person meetings were prohibited altogether by the Commonwealth during the COVID-19 pandemic. This prohibition caused a real challenge for public meetings, but was somewhat remedied when Governor Wolf signed Act 15 of 2020 allowing local governments and respective agencies to conduct hearings, meetings, proceedings, or other business by using an "authorized telecommunications device" until the expiration or termination of the COVID-19 disaster emergency. According to Act 15, this device at a minimum must permit two-way audio communication between all individuals.

But a lack of reliable broadband access affects the ability of some of Pennsylvania's local governments to fulfill the requirement of "two-way audio" to hold virtual public meetings to conduct business, provide services to residents, and enable employees to work virtually at home. The short-coming in service in these places also limits participation by residents and others in accessing public meetings or local government services.

The affordability of adequate broadband service for all users also raises questions of equity in participation in local governance, and of access to other basic needs and services.

In short, reliable broadband service in communities:

• Provides opportunities for online learning and distance education.

• Gives entrepreneurs and small business owners the opportunity to compete alongside large corporations.

• Increases the productivity of businesses.

• Connects people to healthcare services.

• Makes government services more readily available to citizens through e-government.

• Saves companies and organizations money by letting employees telework.

• Allows friends and families to communicate easily.

In 2019, Governor Tom Wolf proposed Restore PA, a $4.5 billion plan that includes an expansion of the state's broadband infrastructure, as well as resources to fight flooding and invest in natural gas production. Restore PA also proposes funding for other infrastructure investments. The plan calls for using government bonds to pay for two decades of infrastructure repairs and maintenance projects across the Commonwealth. The money would then be paid back with revenue from a severance tax on natural gas production.

The proposal hasn't moved since it was introduced by Governor Wolf, but any updates can be viewed on the Pennsylvania Government website