Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment
(BEAD) Program

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)

This historic deployment will expand access to education, remote work, telehealth, online learning, and essential community services.

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.

Project Spotlights

Claverack REC & Revolution Broadband

Thanks to a $4.8 million investment through the Capital Projects Fund: Broadband Infrastructure Program (BIP), 1,300 homes in rural Bradford and Wyoming counties now have access to high-speed internet for the very first time! That means more opportunity for students, stronger support for small businesses, better access to telehealth, and more families staying connected.

With 100 miles of new fiber-optic cable, Claverack REC and Revolution Broadband completed an extensive fiber-to-the-home expansion, and they celebrated the achievement with a community open house in February 2026.

“With new funding and the completion of construction, many additional locations have now been added. We strongly encourage residents to check again – you may now be within reach of our expanding fiber network.”

- Kyle Lane, Director of Broadband Operations, Revolution Broadband

Claverack, Revolution Broadband, and PBDA standing together and smiling at the camera

Two people giving a Power Point presentation to a small crowd of people sitting at tables

Three people standing around a table and reviewing documents

Upward Broadband

Through the Capital Projects Fund: Broadband Infrastructure Program, Upward Broadband received $1.4 million toward outfitting 6 towers throughout South Central PA with fixed wireless broadband. In March 2026, Upward Broadband cut the ribbon on its third tower installation,

The Horseshoe Trail tower joins Upward’s Swatara and Deodate tower installations, bringing high-speed internet to 800 unserved and underserved residents and businesses across Lebanon and Lancaster counties – expanding access to healthcare, education, and modern farming technology for rural communities.

A group of professionally dressed people smiling at the camera and holding a blue ribbon stretched between them

Questions?

No matter your role—legislator, resident, participant, or stakeholder—the PBDA team is ready to help.

If you have questions about closing the digital divide in Pennsylvania, email the
PA Broadband Development Authority or connect with us by phone
at 1.866.466.3972.

Questions regarding Capital Project Fund grant programs may be directed to pbda_capitalprojectsfund@pa.gov.