Keystone Internet Coalition on Broadband Affordability and Adoption

We urge the Commonwealth to expand its efforts to comprehensively address the digital divide, including the issues of broadband affordability and adoption. Specifically, we recommend that Pennsylvania:

• Establish a permanent broadband office with a mandate and funding to research and advance universal service goals related to broadband access, affordability, and adoption.
• Allocate state funds to support broadband adoption and device distribution programs, including support for digital navigators, device lending, telehealth, and workforce development. 
• Create a statewide broadband affordability program that requires low-cost broadband plans and/or provides a consumer subsidy for low-income residents
• Incentivize broadband competition by reducing costs to deployment and eliminating state-imposed roadblocks that prevent municipalities from providing broadband service.
• Expand support for community anchor institutions that provide services for digital navigation, broadband adoption, hotspot and device lending, and public internet access.
• Implement affordability and adoption strategies from Pennsylvania’s Statewide Broadband Plan and Digital Equity Plan.