Broadband Office Name: Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority
BEAD Award Amount: $1.16 B
Pennsylvania Broadband Director: Brandon Carson
Website: https://www.broadband.pa.gov/
Pennsylvania BEAD Program Tracker
| State | IP Vol 1 Approval | IP Vol 2 Approval | Challenge Process Submission Closed | Submitted Challenge Results to NTIA | Challenge Process Results Approved by NTIA | 1-Year Subgrantee Selection Process |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | Yes | Yes | No | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Pennsylvania BEAD Program Information
Key Updates
Pennsylvania has not yet started its Challenge Process but is underway to get the process started.
In May 2024, the NTIA approved both Initial Proposals, releasing over $1.1 billion in funding to the state.
Additionally, the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority has opened an application period for a $20 million program to provide laptops for libraries, non-profits, and community institutions.
Pennsylvania BEAD Program Plans & Maps
Pennsylvania BEAD Program Initial Proposal Volume 2: Overview
BEAD Long-Term Objectives
The Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority (PBDA) has identified four key challenges impeding broadband access:
- Broadband Services and Infrastructure Availability
- Digital Equity and Affordability
- Device and Technology Access
- Digital Literacy and Technical Support
To address these challenges, the PBDA aims to:
- Ensure universal availability of high-speed and scalable broadband networks.
- Increase widespread internet adoption and meaningful use by supporting the ACP, advancing private/public partnerships, and fostering coordination between stakeholders.
- Deploy next-generation networks statewide.
- Build a BEAD statewide workforce ecosystem.
- Enhance program stewardship and accountability.
Pennsylvania BEAD Program Project Area Design
The PBDA will be developing project areas based on Census Block Groups. This approach will allow for precise targeting and analysis to ensure effective broadband infrastructure development and address the specific needs of communities across the state.
Pennsylvania BEAD Program Extremely High Cost Threshold
The PBDA assumes that if a gap area exists and negotiations for service to that Broadband Service Location (BSL) are unsuccessful, fixed wireless or satellite solutions will be the only viable options, as Fiber to the Home (FTTH) will not be feasible. PBDA will incorporate prevailing wage and material inflation as projected percentages into these average costs.
Based on these evaluations, PBDA will assess technology type, BSL volume, and average cost per BSL on a project-by-project basis. PBDA intends to measure these findings against data obtained from the NTIA Planning Toolkit, enabling staff to leverage cost data effectively. This comparison will help PBDA ensure that its estimates align with other widely available and authoritative datasets, allowing for adjustments to account for outliers.
BEAD Deployment Subgrantee Selection
PBDA is asking for the following preregistration evidence from subgrantees and compliance with: Financial capability, managerial capability, operational capability, technical capability, ownership info, public funding info, compliance with laws, cybersecurity/supply chain compliance, and BABA/EHP/NEPA/NHPA compliance.
Primary Scoring Criteria for Priority Broadband Projects
- 40 pts – Minimal BEAD Outlay
- 25 pts – Affordability
- 15 pts – Fair Labor Practices
Secondary Scoring Criteria
- 1 pt – Speed to Deployment
- 10 pts – Equitable Workforce Development and Job Quality
- 4 pts – Local Government Coordination
- 5 pts – Open Access
Other Last-Mile Projects
Primary Scoring Criteria for Priority Broadband Projects
- 35 pts – Minimal BEAD Outlay
- 25 pts – Affordability
- 15 pts – Fair Labor Practices
Secondary Scoring Criteria
- 1 pt – Speed to Deployment
- 5 pts – Speed of Network and other Technical Capabilities
- 10 pts – Equitable Workforce Development and Job Quality
BEAD Non-Deployment Subgrantee Selection
Pennsylvania does not intend to sub-grant for non-deployment activities.
BEAD Eligible Entity Implementation
The PBDA does not plan to carry out non-deployment activities but intends to engage in several initiatives prior to funding sub-grant awards:
- Administrative activities
- Implementing a mapping and data collection/validation program
- Implementing a challenge process
- Implementing a sub-grantee selection process
BEAD Local, Tribe, and Regional Broadband Planning Process
PBDA Structure and Stakeholder Engagement
Board of Directors:
- Members include legislators, state agency secretaries, and directors, who all act as spokespeople for the PBDA.
Sub-Committees:
- Four committees were formed to focus on specific areas: data and mapping, technical, workforce and supply chain, and outreach/education.
Stakeholder Engagement:
- Conducted multiple roundtable events attended by over 150 stakeholders.
- Participated in several conferences and events.
- Hosted the ‘Internet for All: Connecting the Commonwealth’ event with NTIA, attended by 257 individuals.
- Organized 26 in-person Community Conversations across the Commonwealth, attracting 550 attendees.
- Partnered with regional community institutions to co-host events and provided childcare to increase participation.
- Offered a ‘meeting-in-a-box’ toolkit for community use.
- Deployed a Broadband Connectivity and Digital Access Survey, completed by over 7,000 individuals.
- Releases a quarterly newsletter to stakeholders.
- Regularly responds to email and media inquiries.
BEAD Labor Standards & Protection
PBDA requires all BEAD subgrantees to submit the following information:
A record of past compliance with federal/employment laws:
- Must address info on deployment projects within the last 3 years.
- Certification form from an Officer/Director level employee of past compliance.
- Written confirmation that subgrantee has disclosed any violations from contractors within the last 3 years.
- Discussion of workforce plan
Plans for ensuring compliance with federal/employment laws:
- How subgrantee will ensure compliance in its labor/employment practices.
- Info on applicable wage scales, wage, and overtime practices for each class of employee expected to be involved in physical construction of the network.
- How subgrantee will ensure implementation of workplace safety committees.
- Comply with the Prevailing Wages Act.
- Other items as outlined in the BEAD NOFO.
Subcontractors can demonstrate their investment in worker protection by:
- Complete and submit a Worker Protection and Investment Certification form.
- Project Labor Agreements to include pre-hire collecive bargaining agreements between unions or community organizations and contractors.
- Establish and transparently demonstrate local hiring provisions that prioritize local job applicants from the area or locale in which the project is being executed.”
BEAD Minority Business Enterprises / Women’s Business Enterprises / Labor Surplus Area Firms Inclusion
The PBDA encourages Small Disadvantaged Businesses (SDBs) to participate in:
- 8(a) Business Development Program
- HUBZone Program
- Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contracting Program
- Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Program
PBDA certifies that it will:
- Place qualified Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) and Women Business Enterprises (WBEs) on solicitation lists.
- Ensure that MBEs/WBEs are solicited whenever they are potential sources.
- Divide total requirements, when economically feasible, into smaller tasks or quantities.
- Establish delivery schedules that encourage participation.
- Use the services and assistance of organizations such as the Small Business Administration, the Minority Business Development Agency of the Department of Commerce, and the SBA Mentor-Protege program.
- Require each subgrantee to take these affirmative steps.
BEAD Cost & Barrier Reduction
1. Promoting the use of existing infrastructure.
2. Promoting and adapting dig-once policies.
3. Streamlining permitting processes.
4. Streamlining cost-effective access to poles, conduits, and easements.
5. Streamlining rights of way, including the imposition of reasonable access requirements.
BEAD Low-Cost Broadband Service Option
The PBDA will adopt the cost methodology directly related to the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The key provisions are:
- The maximum monthly charge for a low-cost plan is $48.60.
- Allows the end user to apply the ACP benefit subsidy.
- Provides speeds of 100/20 Mbps.
- Ensures latency speeds of 100 ms.
- Is not subject to data caps, surcharges, or usage-based throttling.
- Permits eligible subscribers to upgrade to a higher-speed low-cost plan at little to no cost if such a plan is later offered.
BEAD Middle-Class Affordability
A total of 1,119,667 households are considered middle-class in Pennsylvania. The affordable service option should meet the following criteria:
- Cost $643 annually or $54 per month or less.
- Provide speeds of 100/20 Mbps.
- Ensure latency speeds of 100 ms.
- Not be subject to data caps, surcharges, or usage-based throttling.
- Be made available to all locations within the sub-grantee’s proposed project area.
- Sub-grantees will be required to submit a description of their plan to advertise the affordable service option.