Washington County Secures Largest Broadband Grant Ever, Teams Up with Comcast for $27.8M Connectivity Push

WASHINGTON, Pa., July 20, 2023 (VSNewsNetwork.com) - Washington County has greenlit the final three projects in Phase III of the Washington County Broadband Program, awarding a record $27.8M to bring broadband access to 2,600 previously unserved locations. This groundbreaking initiative will serve areas including East Finley Twp., Donegal Twp., and those around 10 Mile Creek. The County will contribute $18.8M from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, and Comcast, the selected provider, will finance the remainder. The program, the county's most extensive to date, aims to reach 7,500 unserved locations countywide with a total investment of $60.5M.

Diana Irey Vaughan, Chair of the Washington County Board of Commissioners, expressed her optimism, saying, "It will positively impact many lives and foster an equitable future for all residents." Ray Roundtree, Senior Vice President of Comcast's Keystone Region, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of the partnership between the Commission, Washington County Authority, and Comcast.

Despite a $5.8M shortfall from the initial allocation, the County is exploring additional funding opportunities, such as the Pennsylvania Capital Projects Fund (CPF) program, Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) POWER Initiative, and Broadband Expansion and Deployment (BEAD) programs.

For more information about the Washington County Broadband Program, visit Washington County Authority's official website.

Source: Washington County Authority via Newswire