HARRISBURG — The expansion of broadband access in Pennsylvania is currently stalled as federal officials have missed their self-imposed deadline to review the state’s spending plan. Without this crucial approval, the state cannot finalize agreements with internet service providers, delaying construction that aims to enhance connectivity across the commonwealth.
Pennsylvania submitted its broadband plan to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) on September 4, 2023. The federal agency committed to reviewing state plans within 90 days; however, as of January 7, 2024, more than 120 days have passed without a decision. The cause of this delay remains unclear. A spokesperson for NTIA declined to provide details regarding the holdup.
In a speech last December, NTIA Administrator Arielle Roth indicated that the agency was “working around the clock to approve as many states as possible by year’s end.” The broadband grant program, established as part of a bipartisan infrastructure package in 2021, represents the largest investment in broadband access in U.S. history, aiming to ensure that all residents have access to high-speed internet.
The program was restructured under the administration of former President Donald Trump, which introduced stringent new application processes and a 90-day deadline for states to revise their plans. These changes primarily aimed to reduce costs, increasing competition among providers, particularly satellite internet companies, which can now compete more effectively against fiber-optic providers.
The plan submitted by Pennsylvania proposes to connect approximately two-thirds of eligible locations with fiber-optic internet, while 18% would utilize satellite services and 13% would receive wireless internet. Due to the updated eligibility criteria—both from changes in regulations and an increase in existing broadband infrastructure—the state now estimates it can connect all eligible locations for only $790.7 million, significantly less than its initial $1.1 billion allocation.
The NTIA has warned that it may reject specific grant awards if deemed excessive. Reports suggest that states have been asked to quickly rebid awards for certain areas. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has criticized the program’s rollout under President Joe Biden, stating in a U.S. Senate committee last year that the process has been hindered by bureaucratic delays and “woke mandates.” He assured that his department aims to have the funds disbursed by 2025.
At a public meeting in July, state officials expressed urgency in their efforts to revise applications to comply with the new rules. Former budget secretary Uri Monson, who chaired the state broadband authority at the time, noted that the past few weeks had been a particularly intense period of activity, referring to it as a “sprint” to meet the requirements.
Despite the challenges, the majority of states have received approvals for their plans. As of early January, federal officials had signed off on 42 out of 53 state and territory spending proposals. Pennsylvania remains one of ten states waiting for approval, according to data from the NTIA.
This delay in federal approval not only impacts the speed of broadband expansion in Pennsylvania but also highlights the broader challenges in implementing this critical infrastructure initiative aimed at closing the digital divide across the United States.
For more information on this topic, readers are encouraged to follow updates from Spotlight PA, an independent and nonprofit newsroom dedicated to accountability journalism in Pennsylvania.
