Westmoreland County to offer $1.5K to $2.5K incentives for each new broadband installation

Westmoreland County is offering cash to broadband providers to connect homes and businesses to high-speed internet.

County leaders announced an incentive program in which broadband companies could receive between $1,500 to $2,500 for each new customer they connect as part of the federally funded Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program, which provided more than $45 billion to install new high-speed internet services throughout the United States.

Pennsylvania has received $1.16 billion of that funding, in which internet providers can apply for grants to install new broadband connections to areas the government determined to have inadequate service.

The money is designed to encourage new broadband installation programs.

“This investment program illustrates our commitment to improving broadband infrastructure countywide, ensuring all residents will have effective internet access,” Commissioner Sean Kertes said.

The county, in a study released last year, identified more than 3,100 properties, in mostly rural areas in the eastern and north central portions of the county, where there is inadequate broadband access.

“We are willing to put skin in the game,” county Planning Director Jason Rigone said.

Providers have until Jan. 21 to apply through the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority.

The county’s cash would serve as additional funding for each location connected to broadband service and is not a part of a required 25% local match in project costs.

County leaders created two options for companies. Providers can receive a $1,500 stipend for each new installation as part of a project that requires them to connect new high-speed internet service within four years for 95% of a predetermined area of unserved properties. The county will contribute $2,500 for each new connection as part of a project that will include full installation of properties within one set region over a two-year period.

“We’re trying to make Westmoreland County more competitive. They have limited resources and will focus on where it is easiest to do these projects, so we decided to make it easier to optimize their interest in Westmoreland County,” Rigone said.

Upgrading broadband service has been a top agenda item for county leaders. Commissioners last year allocated $10 million in American Rescue Plan funds for new broadband service and the county has allocated $1.7 million through a deal with Verizon to install new fiber-optic cable to connect about 400 homes and businesses with new high-speed internet in Derry, Fairfield and Ligonier townships. Those installations are ongoing and estimated to be completed early next year.

Commissioners last year backed nearly $9 million in potential projects sponsored by internet providers DQE Communications, All Points Broadband Partners and Comcast Cable Communications to install up to 3,000 new connections as part of three separate proposals using federal grants. None was chosen for funding.

The new incentives are designed to improve the county’s chances for more broadband projects, Commissioner Doug Chew said.