JEFFERSON CO. Pa. (EYT) – Living in the 21st century means navigating the wide world of the Internet, and Jefferson County still has some catching up to do on accessibility.
According to data from the United States Census Bureau, Jefferson County is still playing catch-up when it comes to the number of people with broadband Internet access. Data through the year 2017 shows that 69.7% of the households in the county reported having broadband service.
Among the surrounding counties, Jefferson County’s rate of access falls on the low end, with only Forest County, which reported 60% access, and Clearfield County, which reported 68.2%, having lower rates, and Indiana County coming in dead even at a rate of 69.7%. Jefferson County falls behind Armstrong County, which reported 71.8%, Clarion County, which reported 73.7%, and Elk County, which reported 74.5% access rates.
In comparison, the access rates tend to be even higher in the more urban areas of the state, with Erie County reporting 76.4% and Allegheny County reporting 79%.
Pennsylvania, as a whole, falls below the surrounding states with the closest being Ohio with 77.1% of households reporting access to broadband service. New York reported a total of 78.9%, and both New Jersey and Maryland reported just over 82%.
So, where does this leave rural Pennsylvanians, and why is this important?
According to the Pennsylvania Office of Broadband Initiatives, the importance of broadband Internet access touches on three major aspects of people’s lives: business, education, and healthcare.
With the global economy moving further into the digital realm, access to dependable high-speed Internet will be essential to keeping local businesses competitive and operating efficiently.
In the realm of education, the Internet offers a wealth of learning opportunities, and without access, local students may be left behind their peers.
Healthcare is also advancing through digital technology by utilizing it to share records and data efficiently, while also using it to provide expanded options for in-home care.
“High-speed Internet access is essential to growing our economy, expanding educational opportunities for our children, increasing access to modern healthcare, and improving the safety of our communities,” stated Governor Tom Wolf earlier this year.
Jefferson County Commissioner Jack Matson told exploreJeffersonPA.com, “We look at broadband as a utility now. It really is an essential piece of being in the modern world, at home, at businesses, and for education. If you don’t have access, you are at a marked disadvantage.”
“We are working with companies and businesses to find unique solutions. For example, the Gateway Lodge in Cook Forest was losing revenue because of not having reliable Internet service. Through a public-private partnership with the state police, they built a system to provide access to Cooksburg, and it’s been a big success. We’ve been looking at other opportunities to do things like that throughout the county.”
Jefferson County Commissioner Jeff Pisarcik echoes Matson’s sentiments.
“Broadband in rural PA is very limited and is very important when trying to attract new business and also with keeping current employers,” Pisarcik explains.
“As the world has changed to doing business through social media and high-speed broadband, that puts rural Pennsylvania behind, but we continue to work hard in getting awareness (of) the importance of broadband with state and federal officials.”
State officials are already sitting up and taking notice.
The Pennsylvania Broadband Initiative, a state-funded program, is striving to bridge the digital divide by providing high-speed Internet access to every household and business in the state.
The first phase of the program – dubbed the Pennsylvania Broadband Investment Incentive Program – made $35 million in financial assistance available to private providers bidding on unserved areas in Pennsylvania, while also requiring the providers to exceed the FCC’s (Federal Communications Commission) requirements and to meet the governor’s goal of providing 100 Mbps (Megabits per second) or more service by June 30, 2022
The Office of Broadband Initiatives oversees the program but is also continuing to develop a longer-term approach to deliver service to additional areas.
“Ensuring broadband access to every Pennsylvanian is critically important to Pennsylvania’s future,” stated Mark Smith, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Office of Broadband Initiatives.
“Demand and reliance on broadband-related technologies will only continue to increase for our businesses, healthcare industry, students, and first responders.”
It is essential for Jefferson County, as well as surrounding areas, to find ways to invest in this critical piece of our infrastructure.
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