Pennsylvania Turnpike Poised to Profit from Excess Broadband

The Pennsylvania Turnpike is ready to make money — potentially tens of millions — by selling space on a new broadband system along the toll road in Eastern Pennsylvania. The agency has nearly completed two projects totaling $95 million to install fiber-optic cable under the berm of about 220 miles of the highway, split almost evenly between the main line from Harrisburg to the New Jersey border and the Northeast Extension. Before the pandemic, the agency already had approved contracts to install the new fiber-optic system, $45 million for the main line and $50 million for the Northeast Extension. Now, with installation scheduled to be done by early 2022, the turnpike and its contract partner, Plenary Broadband Infrastructure, are ready to market space to operate broadband service to underserved areas along the turnpike corridor. The agency approved a 25-year contract with Plenary last year for the company to maintain the turnpike's portion of the system and market excess space to other operators. Plenary has partnered with broadband marketing experts Tilson and Tilson Infrastructure. Kat Chittenden, a spokeswoman for Tilson, said that the partnership already has started marketing broadband space to internet service providers, wireless and wireline providers, municipalities, educational and health care networks, and large enterprises. Tilson will negotiate master agreements with customers who want to use the broadband space. [Oct 12]