One of the biggest concerns of the rural telephone industry over the upcoming disbursement of millions in federal broadband dollars is the prospect of squandering the money on unnecessary or unsustainable projects, President of the Pennsylvania Telephone Association (PTA), Steve Samara, told the Board of Directors of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania. “Don’t repeat the […]
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PENNSYLVANIA’S RURAL LOCAL TELCOS STAND READY TO ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF OUR NEW BROADBAND AUTHORITY
Pennsylvania’s rural local exchange carriers (RLECs) are eager to throw their support and decades of expertise behind the implementation of Act 96, the recently enacted law that created the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority.
Samara cautions against network overbuilding
Before a Senate/House joint committee hearing, PTA President Steve Samara cautioned against repeating mistakes of earlier federally funded broadband programs, including overbuilding of broadband networks.
With no negative votes, House approves rural broadband legislation
The state House sent the Senate HB 1658, which broadens the current ability of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) to move public utility infrastructure, and enter into cost sharing agreements with rural landline telcos during road and bridge projects.
Legislation freeing up investment money for rural broadband clears House committee
With no negative votes, the House Transportation Committee on June 22 approved legislation, HB 1658, that broadens the current ability of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PaDOT) to move certain public utility infrastructure, and enter into cost sharing agreements with rural landlines telcos during road and bridge projects. The legislation, sponsored by state Rep. Doyle […]
In a boost for rural broadband, Senate approves legislation eliminating costly, outdated regulations
With a strong majority vote, the Senate approved legislation that would help bridge the gap in broadband deployment and internet speeds between urban and rural areas. The bill, SB 341, introduced by one of the state’s leading rural broadband advocates, Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York), would modernize regulations adopted decades ago for rural phone carriers (the […]
Legislation that supports rural broadband by modernizing the telco regulatory structure moves out of the committee
With a bipartisan 7-3 vote, the Senate Communications & Technology Committee on April 20 moved legislation that would help bridge the gap in broadband deployment and speeds between urban and rural areas. The bill, SB 341, introduced by one of the state’s leading rural broadband advocates, Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York), would modernize regulations adopted decades […]