Broadband authority OKs $20M for laptops

(The Center Square) — The Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority voted Thursday to spend $20 million on more than 14,000 laptops to grow internet access in the commonwealth.

The unanimous vote allows the Authority to award between 20 and 200 laptops to libraries, schools, municipalities and other groups.

So far, 130 groups have applied to the program and applications are open through August 19, said Julia Brinjac, digital equity program manager of the PBDA.

The computers will be HP 13.3” EliteBook models, which can also be used as tablets, and groups that receive them will be required to offer digital skills training.

Though the list price for the laptop is $2,900, the PBDA will get a discount, buying the laptops for $1,391 per unit.

The PBDA is also preparing for the influx of $1.16 billion for the buildout of broadband through the federal Broadband Equity Access and Deployment program.

The timeline as it now stands, though may change, has BEAD guidelines approved in August, two application periods for BEAD funds, and then a final proposal due to the federal government in May 2025.

“This timeline is aggressive,” PBDA Executive Director Brandon Carson said.

He noted that the PBDA has a year to provide the federal government with a list of everyone who will receive BEAD funds across the state.

“That list will include where every BEAD dollar goes and how it’ll address serving all unserved and underserved locations across the commonwealth,” Carson said. “This is a tall order and we are rapidly moving on this schedule.”

Though BEAD was announced in 2022, federal delays have slowed down state spending of the $42 billion nationally. Other state and federal money has gotten broadband moving, but BEAD as the largest pot of money is expected to get spent through June 2032.