Westmoreland broadband study set to end as early findings identify service gaps

More than 43% of county residents who participated in a study of Westmoreland County’s broadband have little to no internet service, according to preliminary results announced Thursday.

Since July, the county has conducted a survey of homes and businesses to gauge broadband connectivity and early findings indicated that as much as 71% of those who participated have internet download speeds below national averages and are considered to be underserved.

“That 43% number is the most important. Those are really the people who don’t have any internet at all or basically have service that runs at a snail’s pace,” said Andrew Scampone, technical manager with Michael Baker International, the company being paid $659,000 to conduct the study.

Residents and business have been asked to complete an online survey that has appeared for the last several months on the county’s web page. That survey will end Monday. The survey and information about the study can be found at westmorelandbroadband.org.

More than 2,000 surveys have been completed through last week, and officials are pushing for more residents to participate before the end of the month.

Westmoreland Planning Director Jason Rigone said survey responses have come in from all of the county’s municipalities but the strongest participation has been from homes and businesses in Derry, Fairfield, Hempfield, Ligonier and Unity townships including areas where planners suspect broadband deficiencies.

Communities such as East Huntingdon, Mt. Pleasant Township, Rostraver and South Huntingdon have had fewer people respond to the survey, Rigone said.

“The survey responses will play a major role in our plans for broadband development in Westmoreland County. We want all of our municipalities strongly represented in the final report. If residents and business owners don’t complete the survey, we won’t have a complete picture of the County’s broadband needs,” Rigone said.

Meanwhile, technicians have circulated through targeted regions of the county to record internet readings and identify potential infrastructure needs where slow or nonexistent broadband service is suspected.

Scampone said crews found areas served by DSL technology or with outdated copper lines that make faster service nearly impossible.

“In some areas of Derry Township the lines are so antiquated people can’t get internet into their homes,” Scampone said.

The county will compile data as part of an overall broadband needs assessment that will be used to leverage federal funding for projects to address areas with limited or no service, officials said.

The data will also be used to identify two small projects that could be announced by year’s end to upgrade broadband service.

“We want to extend the infrastructure and install fiber based lines to improve broadband service. The budget for this isn’t done yet, but we expect a portion of it will be paid for through public dollars and by partnering with internet providers,” Rigone said.