West Chester, Pa (September 17, 2025) – Twenty-six municipalities in the 19th District are expected to benefit from $5.6 million in federal grant funding that was provisionally approved to expand high-speed internet, state Senator Carolyn Comitta announced.
The funding, recently announced by the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority, comes through the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program (BEAD). The program provides states with funding to deploy broadband infrastructure and connect remaining locations that lack high-speed internet.
In the 19th District, represented by Comitta, the funds will support the broadband providers Amazon Kuiper Satellite, Comcast, Verizon, IBT Group USA, and SpaceX Satellite in deploying and utilizing fiber, hybrid fiber, fixed wireless, and lower earth orbit satellite technology.
Residents in the following municipalities are expected to benefit from the investment: Coatesville, Downingtown, East Bradford, East Fallowfield, East Goshen, East Nottingham, Easttown , Elk, Highland, Londonderry, Lower Oxford, New London, Newlin, Penn, South Coatesville, Tredyffrin, Upper Oxford, Valley, West Bradford, West Fallowfield, West Goshen, West Marlborough, West Nottingham, West Whiteland, and Willistown.
“Reliable, high-speed internet is a necessity that can positively impact almost every aspect of our lives, including access to education, health care, and economic opportunity,” Comitta said. “We’re approaching the final step to access these investments and close the digital divide in communities across Pennsylvania.”
The funding comes as part of nearly $800 million in total federal investments provisionally approved for broadband upgrades across the Commonwealth. These grants are expected to generate over $1.3 billion in total infrastructure spending that will create jobs, fuel economic growth, and provide broadband to the 130,000 Pennsylvania homes and businesses that currently lack service.
Once fully approved by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), the federal funding will connect all remaining locations across the Commonwealth that currently lack high-speed internet service. Funds can be used for physical improvements; long-term leases; multi-family residential deployment; planning, design, and engineering; personnel costs; and network software upgrades.
The funding is matched by $650 in private sector investment – far more than the 25 percent requirement.
In addition to the BEAD program, the Commonwealth has awarded other grants for broadband expansion, including $45 million for community facilities and $204.1 million for projects to serve over 100,000 residents. An additional $20 million was awarded to provide technology devices such as laptops to organizations for distribution.
All projects remain subject to NTIA approval and acceptance by the applicants. Adjustments may be required during NTIA’s review of the Final Proposal, and applicants may also choose not to move forward with certain projects or project areas. In such cases, selections may shift to the next-ranked applicant/project. As a result, provisional selections – and the overall BEAD investment – are subject to change.
The NTIA has committed to approving and disbursing the BEAD funds by the end of this year.
The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program was established under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021.
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