Delays stall Pennsylvania broadband expansion plans

The Biden administration’s promise in 2022 was speedy internet access for every American as part of a $42.45 billion, once-in-a-generation U.S. infrastructure upgrade. Internet service giants Comcast and Verizon jumped in line with counties in submitting bids to make the dream come true by 2030. In Pennsylvania, contract awards for broadband expansion were anticipated before the end of 2025. All of that is now delayed a year as the federal government rewrites Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program guidelines, forcing contractors to start from scratch in rebidding work worth more than $1 billion. But that’s not all. In a recent social media post, President Donald Trump threatened to cut funding for the U.S. broadband expansion plan “immediately,” calling the program “racist” and “totally unconstitutional.” Some 160,000 homes and businesses in Pennsylvania don’t have adequate broadband service and therefore are eligible for BEAD-funded internet connections. Pennsylvania’s share of the $42.45 billion federal program is $1.16 billion. But the rollout of Internet for All is hobbled by administrative delays, and in Pennsylvania, burdened by higher labor costs when compared to many other states.