HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority today awarded grant funding to four Erie County institutions seeking to improve internet access within the community, announced Sen. Dan Laughlin (R-49). All grant funding will be used to purchase laptops.
“We all know how important broadband internet is in our daily lives, and this funding will increase access to technology devices, the cost of which is preventing broadband use,” said Laughlin.
The recipients of the laptops are:
- Union City Area School District, 80 laptops.
- Corry Higher Education Council, 75 laptops.
- Erie County Public Library, 70 laptops.
- The Arts Council of Erie County, 20 laptops.
The grants are funded through the federally backed ARPA Digital Connectivity Technology Program and were part of a $20 million competitive grant process to Pennsylvania public-facing community anchor institutions and units of local government to purchase devices, mainly laptops. These institutions had to prove affordability has been identified as an obstacle to broadband adoption and use and these devices are vital to their community with broadband access.
The Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority (PBDA) was created by a 2021 state law to be an independent agency of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). PBDA is responsible for creating a statewide broadband plan and distributing federal and state monies for broadband expansion projects in unserved and underserved areas of Pennsylvania. The authority focuses on closing our commonwealth’s digital divide so all residents can get connected to affordable and reliable high-speed broadband internet at home, at work or on the road.
For more state-related news and information, constituents can visit Laughlin’s website at www.senatorlaughlin.com or follow him on Facebook and Twitter @senatorlaughlin.
Contact: David Kozak 717-787-8927