Matzie: $2 million in funding will bring high-speed broadband to area residents, businesses
Rep. Robert Matzie December 8, 2020 | 5:41 PM
AMBRIDGE, Dec. 8 – More area residents and business owners will have the benefit of high-speed broadband access thanks to nearly $2 million in funding from the Federal Communications Commission awarded today to five area broadband companies, state Rep. Rob Matzie announced today.
Matzie said the funding is welcome after years of work to bring faster connections to area neighborhoods.
“As Democratic chairman of the House Consumer Affairs Committee, expanding access for residents and businesses has been a top priority,” Matzie said. “I’m glad to see the federal government make this much-needed investment to help remove the digital divide that unfortunately exits based on Zip code.
“So many day-to-day tasks and interactions depend on reliable, quick internet access, and the need is even greater now, as more people are working, shopping and socializing from home. Internet access has become similar to other essential services, such as water, electric and gas utility – with a level of expectation by the consumer that there is access and speed.”
Matzie said the funding, which will provide access to 1,731 homes and businesses in the district, includes the following:
- $716,028 to Windstream Services LLC, to 259 Beaver County customers and another $180,474 for 114 Allegheny County customers.
- $593,551 to Space Exploration Technologies Corp. for 575 Beaver County customers and an additional $486,460 for 747 Allegheny County customers.
- $20,316 to Armstrong Telephone Co. – Northern Division for 36 Allegheny County customers.
The funding is part of a package of more than $368 million in auction funding awarded statewide by the FCC.