An announcement on Tuesday, given by Erie County Executive Brenton Davis from a municipal lot on North Center Street in Corry, revealed over $90 million in provisional government funding for a broadband project to be spread across 10 counties. 

Davis called it a “historic investment.” 

The funds – $90,744,518, to be exact – were recently awarded to Core Connect Inc. through the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority (PBDA) and a federal BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment) program. Through a network of numerous providers – including, but not limited to Core Connect – the project is expected to provide reliable and cost-effective internet connection to over 10,300 locations across the 10-county region. The hope is that, while providing a choice for consumers, the project will also foster healthy competition among the participating providers. 

In his announcement, Davis emphasized that this initiative is meant to provide service options for the “unserved and underserved,” focusing in particular on rural areas with low population density. He also noted that the 10-county coalition received roughly 11% of the statewide funding available.

“Never before have we seen that kind of historic investment in northwest Pennsylvania,” Davis stated. “And no county would have achieved this kind of success had we chosen to go it alone. Really, this is us as county commissioners working collectively to leverage outside of our weight class. Not only to compete, but win, with places like Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Scranton.”

How the money will be distributed among the 10 counties Davis does not yet know, but said that will be a needs-based decision process based on applications from eligible customers.

“That’s actually decided at the state level,” he said. “That’s something we don’t have control over.” 

Davis

Brenton Davis

Rebekah Wallace / The Corry Journal

Davis was joined at the announcement by Tricia Durbin, vice president of the Warren County Board of Commissioners. A representative from Crawford County was invited but unable to attend, according to Davis. 

Durbin noted the need for widespread broadband access became clear during events of the Covid pandemic, adding that this is hopefully the first of many investments to help bring that goal to fruition.

Other counties included in the coalition are: Cameron, Clarion, Elk, Forest, Lawrence, Mercer and Venango counties.

“We knew as commissioners, we’re stronger together,” Davis said. 

Shana Smith, operations director for the Northwest Commission, which has played a leadership role in the broadband funding effort, was not present at the announcement but pointed out in an email interview that this award is provisional. 

“The decision process continues with the open comment period through [today], and then the state’s final proposal will be submitted by the PBDA to NTIA (National Telecommunication and Information Administration) no later than Sept. 4,” she said.  

For more information and maps detailing the scope of the project and other provisionally approved providers, visit https://broadband.pa.gov/broadband-equity-access-and-deployment-bead-program/.Â