This morning, Indiana County officials held a special half-hour presentation on Indiana in the Morning to shed light on the on-going broadband project.
The longtime project aims to bring reliable, high-speed internet access to underserved areas around the county, and it has been a priority for county officials since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Executive Director of Planning and Development Byron Stauffer kicked off the discussion with an update on the status of the project, saying that fiber optic lines have been laid out across the county, but he said there have been some issues.
Commissioner Chairman Mike Keith said Indiana County is ahead of the curve in terms of installing broadband, compared to other counties.
One of the themes of the conversation was broadband’s shift from being a luxury to becoming an infrastructural need. Commissioner Robin Gorman said prospective businesses seek out strong internet, among other things, when looking to move to Indiana County.
Commissioner Sherene Hess shared that sentiment, saying the need for strong internet access is needed for agricultural needs.
While no date was announced yet for the deployment of high-speed broadband across the county, RFP bids and responses are due tomorrow, and more information will come after those are analyzed.
You can watch the full presentation below:
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