Broadband Expansion Continues; $27.9M Contract Awarded

Washington County Commissioners unanimously approved a proposal for increased broadband services in East Finley Township, Donegal Township and the Ten Mile Creek areas. Comcast will install 392 miles of Fiberoptic cable throughout the three areas with a total cost of 27.9 million dollars. The plan will give broadband internet to 2,600 homes and businesses in the southern part of Washington County says Owen Pucel, the director of operations for the Washington County Authority. County Commissioner Nick Sherman says the work to get Washington County broadband service is ahead of schedule and ahead of most counties in the state. After a successful pilot program in the past two years, the goal is to get the state of Pennsylvania to match the grants to get more houses broadband service. $9.3 million dollars will be paid by the County through the American Rescue Plan Act Fund, the remainder of the cost will be handled by Comcast. The county commissioners also approved the submission of a letter of intent to the Pennsylvania Capital Projects Fund Program to further extend service throughout the county.