YoCo Fiber is an historic, $26.5 million investment in high-speed internet for all

Since 2020, when the pandemic brought issues of internet access to the forefront, the York County Commissioners have invested $26.5 million in expanding broadband access in York County. This historic investment, which surpasses most other Pennsylvania counties, recognizes that access to the internet has become essential to quality of life and full participation in the economy.

In 2020, utilizing federal CARES funding, York County government commissioned a countywide “connectivity study,” to evaluate broadband accessibility and infrastructure throughout York County and create a plan to expand broadband internet access to all residents.

As part of this initiative, the county conducted a “demand aggregation” survey of household internet availability, speeds, and costs. Utilizing an industry-recognized consultant that has performed similar work for over 200 communities, the demand aggregation study utilized real-time speed tests taken by households throughout York County, documenting areas where access is limited or where households are paying for high-speed internet but not consistently getting it.

As one might expect, it demonstrated areas of York County where upwards of 50%-70% of residents do not have access to high-speed internet. Our demand aggregation findings were consistent with Census data that was several years older, suggesting that despite some expansion of broadband access in recent years, large swathes of York County remained underserved.

The data also showed our challenge is twofold. In rural York County, broadband is limited due to lack of physical infrastructure. Historically, internet providers could not make the business case to invest millions of dollars to extend fiber optic lines into parts of the county with fewer households, so they have stuck to the more densely populated parts of the county.

Urban York County

In urban York County, the challenge is different. Fiber infrastructure is present and available, but many residents cannot afford it or face other barriers to accessibility, such as the lack of a permanent address or past issues with credit. Although the data issued by the FCC and others is spotty, it appears that upwards of 40% of households do not have access to high-speed internet in urban areas such as York or Hanover, despite the availability of conventional internet subscription plans. Furthermore, federal affordability programs intended to make the price of internet more affordable are notoriously cumbersome and, unfortunately, not well-suited to the needs of urban residents, despite the best efforts of internet service providers and community service organizations to spread the word about their availability.

All of this paints a “Swiss cheese” looking map of spotty high-speed broadband coverage throughout York County. In today’s economy, when internet access is essential, this status quo simply isn’t good enough. Regardless of geography or demographic, the internet is a basic need for employment, education, healthcare, or basic connectivity to government or society.

While this challenge is not unique to York County, we should be proud that York County has led the way among Pennsylvania counties for our ambitious, comprehensive plan to bridge the digital divide in both rural and urban areas of York County and doing so without spending any local tax dollars.

We can also be proud that this ambitious initiative is overseen by the YoCo Fiber Broadband Task Force, a countywide committee composed of representatives from health care, education, economic development, engineering, public utilities, county and local government, and the private business sector. The task force contributed their diversity of expertise and perspectives to help develop a meaningful broadband strategy with widespread community support.

Under our YoCo Fiber plan, the county will develop both physical fiber infrastructure and wireless networks. We are deploying $20 million to build 144 miles of “middle mile” that will advance fiber infrastructure into underserved portions of southern York County — roughly from Route 30 to the Maryland line, and from Hanover to the Susquehanna River. As additional funding becomes available from state and federal sources, we intend to build an additional 189 miles through the rest of the county.

In the York and Hanover metro areas, $5 million has been allocated to create a free “basic needs” wireless network. While this wireless network will not replace a traditional internet subscription for those households in need of high data use or streaming multiple devices, the network will allow those who face barriers to internet access the opportunity for virtual learning, telehealth, employment opportunities and other essential needs. The creation of this network is under contract and currently being deployed, with an estimated completion by the end of 2024.

York County is a large, growing county with over 450,000 residents spread across 911 square miles. YoCo Fiber will enhance our county’s economic competitiveness and empower more York countians to seize the opportunities and improved quality of life that comes with access to high-speed broadband internet.

Public investment

Just as county governments previously built highways such as Route 30, which ultimately triggered private developers to invest in local roads, YoCo Fiber is public investment that will pave the way for further private investment to connect more homes and more businesses with faster internet. YoCo Fiber is the best of public and private partnerships. Through this wise and responsible investment by the county, private businesses and internet service providers will have the opportunity to better connect communities by building off the county-owned infrastructure and bringing their private capital to the table.

For too many years, a digital divide has existed in rural, urban, and suburban areas of our country, our commonwealth, and our county. Too many of our residents across York County live without access to high-speed internet. The solutions to such a daunting issue are neither easy nor simple, but for the first time in our county’s history, we are taking the necessary steps to do something about it.

Silas Chamberlin is chair of the YoCo Fiber Broadband Task Force and Chief Strategy Officer at the York County Economic Alliance.

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: YoCo PA Fiber a $26.5M investment in high-speed internet for all