Pennsylvania’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program

Posted on by lad3

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) approved Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program funds in Pennsylvania. The provisionally approved projects will expand broadband across the Commonwealth ― connecting all remaining 129,356 locations that lack high-speed internet service.

🌐Review PBDA’s provisional grant awardees.

🌐 Review the BEAD Program and its next steps.

BEAD at a Glance

  • $711,295,843 in approved funds
  • 129,356 locations to be connected
  • 69 projects across all 67 counties
  • 20 Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

Technology by Number of Locations

  • 74,878 fiber technology
  • 29,884 low-earth orbit (LEO)
  • 17,739 fixed-wireless
  • 6,855 hybrid-fiber coaxial

BEAD Permitting Process

With broadband construction accelerating statewide, timely and coordinated permit review is critical. To keep projects on schedule, permit applications are expected to be reviewed within 90 days. Achieving this goal requires coordination at multiple levels:

  • Federal: PBDA is working with federal partners to streamline permitting requirements and reviews.
  • State: State agencies will coordinate permit reviews, with complex issues elevated through the Office of Transformation and Opportunity (OTO). An online portal will be developed to support efficient submission and tracking of state permit requests.
  • Local: PBDA will work with BEAD-funded providers and local governments to address permitting challenges and support efficient local review processes.

Additional information will be shared soon regarding the state permitting portal and regional roundtables focused on broadband permitting coordination.

The Broadband Ready Communities (BBRC) Program 

Have an approved BEAD project coming to your community? The Broadband Ready Communities (BBRC) Program is still open! We encourage local governments to participate, as it creates an efficient line of communication for permitting procedures.

🌐 Check the map to see if a BEAD project coming to your location.

🌐 See all current BBRC designated municipalities and counties.

🌐 Apply for BBRC.