Mar. 27, 2018
HARRISBURG – Citing the lack of rural broadband as an impediment to economic development and educational opportunities, Reps. Tina Pickett (R-Bradford/Sullivan/Susquehanna) Jonathan Fritz (R-Susquehanna/Wayne) and Karen Boback (R-Lackawanna/Luzerne/Wyoming) will host members of the House Majority Policy Committee for a public hearing on Thursday, April 5.
The public is invited to attend the hearing, which begins at 10 a.m. in the auditorium of the Susquehanna County Career and Tech Center at Elk Lake High School. It is located at
2380 Elk Lake School Road in Springville.
“Every day, we receive complaints and concerns about the lack of reliable broadband access across the Northern Tier and the problems that causes,” Pickett said. “As a result of slow service or a lack of high-speed broadband entirely, business owners are unable to function efficiently, students cannot take advantage of educational opportunities and health care providers are unable to offer tele-medicine options for patients.”
“Pennsylvania’s economic well-being will rely heavily on the growth of business,” said Fritz. “It’s an absolute necessity to focus on making broadband widely available and affordable.”
“I am looking forward to hearing from both community and industry representatives about how we can improve this critical infrastructure for Pennsylvanians,” said Boback. “My colleagues and I are committed to improving rural broadband access because it impacts nearly every aspect of modern life.”
Testifiers at this hearing will inform legislators about ways in which the absence of high-speed internet access is holding back local economies, provide an update on the long-range plans of providers and discuss emerging technologies that could help solve the problem.
Those expected to offer testimony will include representatives from the following organizations: Central Bradford Progress Authority, Soil Services, Endless Mountains Health Systems Inc., Wayne County Board of Commissioners, Pennsylvania Telephone Association, Broadband Cable Association of Pennsylvania, Verizon and Microsoft.
Visitors from the general public will need to check in at the school’s office for a visitor’s pass.
Barring any technical difficulties, the hearing will be streamed online at
pagoppolicy.com.
Representative Tina Pickett
110th District
RepPickett.com /
Facebook.com/RepPickett
Representative Jonathan Fritz
111th District
RepFritzPA.com /
Facebook.com/RepFritz
Representative Karen Boback
117th District
RepBoback.com
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Jennifer Keaton (717) 705-2094
Morgan Dux (717) 260-6695