Armstrong may get nearly $20 million to expand broadband access
Armstrong Telecommunications is preparing to expand broadband in Butler County even further than previously announced.
The company is planning to use $5.3 million from $19.9 million in recent provisionally approved federal funding to expand internet service to areas in Butler County not served by a previous expansion for the Slippery Rock Area and Moniteau school districts.
On Friday, the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority announced $793.4 million in Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment grants have been provisionally awarded statewide, including the $19.9 million awarded to Armstrong.
Following a seven-day public comment period that ends at 5 p.m. Aug. 29, the provisional grant awards will be submitted to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration by Sept. 4 for final approval and disbursement by the end of the year.
Jeremy Jurick, Armstrong’s regulatory policy director, said the money earmarked for Butler County will be combined with a $6.3 million match from Armstrong and a match of about $900,000 from the county for a $12.5 million expansion, he said. The county agreed to provide a match of up to $1 million.
The funding award is the result of a partnership between Armstrong, Butler County and the state broadband development authority, said Jud M. Stewart, Armstrong’s corporate communications director.
“We’re looking to finish the job,” Jurick said, referring to the expansion underway in the school districts. “We kind of see this as a continuation to fulfill our promise to the rest of the county. We’re just excited. Over $5 million is coming to Butler County.”
Jurick commended the county commissioners for committing to provide the matching funds and Mark Gordon, the county chief of economic and community development, for helping put the deal together.
“I’m not sure this would have happened without them,” Jurick said.
He said Armstrong was informed Thursday about the funding award, so a timeline to complete the work hasn’t been set, but the work will be completed before the four year federal deadline expires.
“We’re aiming to complete it ahead of schedule,” Jurick said.
Funding for the Accessible Broadband for Children program for school districts and the latest expansion originated from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021.
After funding for the ABC program was released, the federal government revised regulations and policies to allow the use of a variety of technology including fiber, hybrid-fiber coaxial, fixed wireless and low-Earth orbit satellite, but Armstrong is planning to use fiber for the Butler County expansion.
“Butler County has a great partner in Armstrong and we are thrilled to be investing with them and the Commonwealth in bringing broadband to places unserved or underserved in our county. This will advance education and health care and provide support for businesses in those areas especially,” said Leslie Osche, chairwoman of the county commissioners.
“When its all said and done, at a minimum, 98.5% of the roughly 200,000 people in Butler County will have access to fiber and/or internet,” Gordon said. “We think it will be closer to 99%.”
Nathan Werner, assistant county planning director, said 1,467 locations in the county do not have internet access. The county identified 1,399 locations that can be connected. The 68 locations left out are remote and extending service there is not cost effective, he said.
Commissioner Kevin Boozel said Armstrong’s low per mile cost of installing fiber was a likely factor in the decision to approve the funding. He said the county appreciates Armstrong providing a match.
“Every dollar counts. Every house matters,” Boozel said.
The rest of the money awarded to Armstrong will be used to expand internet service in its other service areas in the state including parts of Erie, Mercer, Fayette, Somerset and Westmoreland counties.
