Armstrong hosts Broadband expansion kickoff for Moniteau, Slippery Rock school districts
SLIPPERY ROCK TWP — Moniteau School Board President Michael Panza said he is grateful that students at the district will not have to jump through hoops to do their online work in the future, thanks to Armstrong’s broadband expansion.
“During COVID, students and their parents had to drive to the library just to do their homework,” Panza said.
Armstrong hosted a kickoff for that expansion on Wednesday, July 16, at Slippery Rock University. The Accessible Broadband for Children program will look to lay 220 new miles of fiber and connect 1,660 locations across Moniteau and Slippery Rock school districts.
“Education today extends far beyond brick walls,” Jeffrey Ross, president of Armstrong, said. “How can a school district properly deliver the promise of the next generation if significant portions of the school-age population do not have access to reliable broadband?”
Ross said that Armstrong was in a unique position to help expand broadband access for students in their home county, opening up opportunities for collaboration with both county and municipal officials.
“Our Accessible Broadband for Children program in these two school districts are precisely the type of public-private partnerships which bring the necessary infrastructure empowering our children to connect to each other and the world,” Ross said. “Because this is our home county and where so many of our employees send their kids to learn, working with our commonwealth, county, township and school district partners does make this effort just a little more special.”
Secretary Rick Siger of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development added that, while the program would indeed benefit students, broadband access is important to everyone.
“Broadband keeps people healthy by enabling telemedicine, removing barriers to health care and enhancing emergency services,” Siger said. “It empowers people to look for and apply for jobs online.”
County Commissioner Leslie Osche said during her speech that access to broadband is a necessity. She took the time to thank all of the county employees and Armstrong representatives for their work leading up to the event.
“In today’s world, broadband is as much an essential utility as is water, sewer, gas and electricity. When you’re without it, it’s a struggle,” Osche said.
Despite taking this moment to look back at what has been achieved, calling it one of the biggest accomplishments of her tenure, she also recognized that the county was not done expanding broadband.
“That’s why we’re seeking to advance the partnership into the next round of broadband funding called BEAD to deploy it throughout the remaining unserved pockets in the county (while being) as fiscally responsible as possible.”
In December, county commissioners had voted to work with Armstrong to apply for Broadband Equity Access and Deployment, or BEAD, funding, to expand broadband countywide.
County Commissioner Kevin Boozel echoed Osche’s points in his own speech, saying that he hopes the county will someday be able to supply access to every resident.
“What we’re talking about is roads and bridges, and we’re talking about roads to opportunities and bridges to data and digital divides and access and affordability and connectivity,” Boozel said. “There should not be somebody out there that can’t connect to a health care provider. There are. We still have people that do not have access to the simplest dial-up systems.”
The kickoff event wrapped with Brandon Carson, executive director of the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority, presenting the two commissioners with a proclamation declaring the county a “Broadband Ready Community.”
The Broadband Ready Community Program is a state program that designates municipalities and counties as such, allowing opportunities for broadband infrastructure investment by reducing procedural, policy and permitting barriers to broadband deployment.
“What makes this program truly meaningful is its focus on partnership,” Carson said. “It calls on communities and providers to communicate clearly, collaborate authentically and commit to shared goals. That kind of cooperation doesn’t just build broadband infrastructure, it builds trust.”
-
Jeremy Jurick, Director of Regulatory Policy at Armstrong introduces speakers during Armstrong's Accessible Broadband for Children Broadband Expansion Kickoff event at Slippery Rock University's Robert M. Smith Student Center on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
-
Commissioner Kevin Boozel takes the stage to speak during Armstrong's Accessible Broadband for Children Broadband Expansion Kickoff event at Slippery Rock University's Robert M. Smith Student Center on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
-
The Harrisville American Legion Post 852 presents the colors ahead of Armstrong's Accessible Broadband for Children Broadband Expansion Kickoff event at Slippery Rock University's Robert M. Smith Student Center on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
-
The Harrisville American Legion Post 852 presents the colors ahead of Armstrong's Accessible Broadband for Children Broadband Expansion Kickoff event at Slippery Rock University's Robert M. Smith Student Center on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
-
Jeremy Jurick, Director of Regulatory Policy at Armstrong introduces speakers during Armstrong's Accessible Broadband for Children Broadband Expansion Kickoff event at Slippery Rock University's Robert M. Smith Student Center on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
-
TommyLynn Kilian sings the national anthem during Armstrong's Accessible Broadband for Children Broadband Expansion Kickoff event at Slippery Rock University's Robert M. Smith Student Center on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
-
Brad Schake, Director of Field Operations at Armstrong, leads attendees in an invocation during Armstrong's Accessible Broadband for Children Broadband Expansion Kickoff event at Slippery Rock University's Robert M. Smith Student Center on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
-
Commissioner Leslie Osche speaks during Armstrong's Accessible Broadband for Children Broadband Expansion Kickoff event at Slippery Rock University's Robert M. Smith Student Center on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
-
Armstrong President Jeffrey Ross shakes hands with Rick Siger, Secretary of the Department of Community and Economic Development, during Armstrong's Accessible Broadband for Children Broadband Expansion Kickoff event at Slippery Rock University's Robert M. Smith Student Center on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
-
Rick Siger, Secretary of the Department of Community and Economic Development, speaks during Armstrong's Accessible Broadband for Children Broadband Expansion Kickoff event at Slippery Rock University's Robert M. Smith Student Center on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
-
Rick Siger, Secretary of the Department of Community and Economic Development, speaks during Armstrong's Accessible Broadband for Children Broadband Expansion Kickoff event at Slippery Rock University's Robert M. Smith Student Center on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
-
Commissioners Kevin Boozel and Leslie Osche are presented with a certificate by Brandon Carson, Executive Director of Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority, during Armstrong's Accessible Broadband for Children Broadband Expansion Kickoff event at Slippery Rock University's Robert M. Smith Student Center on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
-
Troy Miller, Slippery Rock University Vice President for University Advancement, takes the stage to speak during Armstrong's Accessible Broadband for Children Broadband Expansion Kickoff event at Slippery Rock University's Robert M. Smith Student Center on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
-
Commissioner Kevin Boozel speaks during Armstrong's Accessible Broadband for Children Broadband Expansion Kickoff event at Slippery Rock University's Robert M. Smith Student Center on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
More in Local News
