Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority Broadband/Telecom Projects

The Commonwealth will, from time to time, participate in telecommunications projects. Examples are provided below.

Capital Area Intermediate Unit (CAIU) - This project contributed to enhanced broadband capability for a four-county region (Cumberland, Dauphin, Perry and York) served by the Capital Area Intermediate Unit in the form of a wireless Local Area Network (LAN) for the purposes of advancement of education and economic development opportunities.

Specifically, a BFTDA investment assisted in providing fiber and wireless deployment to a multi-county region for the purposes of facilitating broadband connectivity to the CAIU and 10 regional schools, along with deployment of broadband infrastructure to additional strategic locations, namely Perry County Business Campus One, Perry County seat location in New Bloomfield, and new fiber optic extension adjacent to Steelton business park.

Another outcome of DCED’s participation in the CAIU project was the preparation of a telecommunications feasibility study (.pdf) enabling the Capital Region to capitalize on technology-driven economic development opportunities.

Bedford County Wireless - Deployment of broadband capability in Bedford County in the form of a Wireless Area Network (WAN) providing users with operations and services in symmetrical bandwidth from 256Kb to multiple T-1 speeds. The WAN will utilize unlicensed frequencies with point-to-point, point- to multi-point, and broadcast zone design configurations that will immediately cover approximately 70% of Bedford County, with future scalability potential to ultimately cover the entire Bedford County footprint. The deployment is being done for the purposes of advancement of economic development and education opportunities, enhancement to the delivery of health care and local government services, public safety, and quality of life improvement.

Broadband Rural Area Information Network (BRAIN) - This project extends the Broadband Rural Area Information Network (BRAIN) to include the Moshannon Valley and Phillipsburg-Osceola School District. Once completed, Phase 1 of Broadband Rural Area Information Network will provide connectivity to all buildings in the two school districts, 1400 households and several businesses within one year.