Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority Seeking Public Input on Community Engagement Efforts

Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority Executive Director Brandon Carson is asking Pennsylvanians to provide input on the stakeholder engagement process for developing two plans: the State Digital Equity Plan and the Commonwealth’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Five-Year Action Plan. The two-week public comment period began on February 27 and ends Friday, March 10, 2023. The State Digital Equity Stakeholder Engagement Plan will focus on engaging eight primary populations required through federal guidance – aging individuals, incarcerated individuals, veterans, individuals with disabilities, English learners, individuals with low levels of literacy, individuals who are members of an ethnic or racial minority, or individuals living in rural areas – to offer achievable objectives, and measurable outcomes. The plan can be viewed on the Authority’s website and includes:

• Two digital equity roundtable discussions,
• Community surveys,
• Participation by the Authority in community events,
• In-person community conversations held around the Commonwealth,
• Measurable outcomes.

In addition to the plan, the Authority will identify a specific number of stakeholders to form a Digital Equity Stakeholder Engagement Panel to help inform and guide the implementation of the plan. Digital equity is also a core component of the BEAD program and the Authority’s Five-Year Action Plan will incorporate digital equity and inclusion needs, goals, and implementation strategy.

[02/27/2023]