FCC Authorizes $2.6 Million for Gigabit-Speed Broadband in Northwestern Pennsylvania

The Federal Communications Commission authorized $2,642,413 in funding over ten years to expand broadband in rural northwestern Pennsylvania. With this tranche of FCC support, Armstrong Telecommunications has committed to providing broadband at speeds of at least 1 Gbps/500 Mbps to an estimated 1,949 unserved rural homes and businesses in Crawford, Erie, and Mercer counties. This announcement brings the total Connect America Fund Phase II auction support for Pennsylvania to $36,655,925 for 9,673 locations. Broadband providers in Pennsylvania that receive funding through the FCC’s Connect America Fund must build out to 40% of the assigned homes and businesses within three years. Buildout must increase by 20% in each subsequent year, until complete buildout is reached at the end of the sixth year.