About the Program
This page will help you understand the five key actions of the project. Each part of the program will have its own timeline and objective, but will work together to better connect Beaver County and its residents.
Learn more about each of the five key actions below.
New Broadband Service – Connectivity Opportunity Areas
Click the “magnifying glass” icon at the top of the map and enter your address in the search bar. Select your address from the drop-down menu. You may also click the “crosshair” icon to be taken directly to your current location. Click on the “About” tab to learn more about this tool.
Early Action Projects Underway
Two Early Action Projects are now complete, and new broadband service is available to more than 250 Beaver County homes previously without reliable service. The EAPs established best practices for future connectivity project deployments in the County. Municipalities with locations in the new service areas include Hanover Township (Hanover Kendall Road, Airline Drive, and Hanny Beaver Road), now receiving connection through Armstrong, and Darlington Township, South Beaver Township, and Big Beaver Borough (along the Route 51 corridor including Route 551 and Stitt Road), now receiving connection through Kinetic by Windstream.
Next Steps: ISPs have been attempting to contact residents now eligible for service. Residents in Early Action Project areas can now also contact the provider in their area to sign up for service.
Service to Remaining Connectivity Opportunity Areas
Beaver County has partnered with Verizon to provide service the remaining unserved and underserved areas identified by Beaver County. Unserved locations have no access to wired internet service at speeds that meet the FCC threshold of 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload, meaning the internet connection is slow and unreliable or nonexistent. Underserved locations have internet service at or above the FCC threshold but with no access to wired broadband service at speeds 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload, this can lead to slow or unreliable service.
Next Steps: Preliminary design followed by construction. Many homeowners will be eligible for service as early as December 2024 and will be contacted by Verizon ahead of availability.
Information for Municipalities
Digital Navigator Program
Throughout 2022, the County led a planning effort to design a program for those who need help learning how to use the Internet and getting access to equipment. Digital navigators are a national best practice that offers in-person computer assistance provided by trained individuals that help users navigate using computers, websites, and common software with confidence. They can also help teach users how to stay safe online and protect their personal information. The County conducted research and stakeholder outreach to design a program tailored to Beaver County needs, branded as the “Beaver County Digital Coach”. As a part of this planning process, we worked with Tech2Elevate, a non-profit associated with Ambridge-based Paramount Pursuits, to create a 5-year Operations Plan with the intent for this program to be operated and maintained long-term beyond the County’s initial investment.
We are working with various partners to finalize funding, which will then allow the program to finalize and promote locations, hours, and launch date.
Read the Connect Beaver County Digital Coach Report here
Next Step: Pursuing Grant Funding to Support the Digital Coach Launch
Connect County Towers via Fiber: Planning Underway
Providing better connectivity to emergency services in Beaver County is a top priority. Connecting all eight county radio towers to fiber will enable direct connectivity for emergency service communications systems and allows for the wireless radio system to serve as a backup, instead of the primary communication system. Though the fiber will assist emergency services’ needs, it may also be available to provide middle-mile service to businesses and homes.
Next Step: Identify Internet Service Provider
Broadband Utility Connection Fund: Future
This program will be designed next year after the providers have been selected to service the unserved areas in Beaver County. The new fund will be set up to offer financial support to people who still do not have service to their home or business due to extenuating circumstances. More details will be provided once the fund is established.
Next Step: After Providers are Selected, Planning for this Fund Begins
Mobile Connectivity Study: Future
One of the main issues identified through the initial connectivity study field work and public survey is that mobile wireless connectivity is very poor throughout the county. Additional data collection will be conducted on mobile wireless in areas not visited during the initial study.
Next Step: After Providers are Selected, this Study Will Begin
Future Unserved Areas Study: Future
In leveraging ARPA and other federal funding to support broadband implementation of 100 Mbps download speed and 100 Mbps upload speed, newly connected areas will have faster internet service than other areas of the county. A new planning study will help county leadership identify and prioritize future funding for broadband expansion.
Next Step: After Providers are Selected, Planning for this Fund Will Begin
Please scroll down for updates on each of the initiatives
New Broadband Service
Early Action Projects Underway
Two Early Action Projects are now complete, and new broadband service is available to more than 250 Beaver County homes previously without reliable service. The EAPs established best practices for future connectivity project deployments in the County. Municipalities with locations in the new service areas include Hanover Township (Hanover Kendall Road, Airline Drive, and Hanny Beaver Road), now receiving connection through Armstrong, and Darlington Township, South Beaver Township, and Big Beaver Borough (along the Route 51 corridor including Route 551 and Stitt Road), now receiving connection through Kinetic by Windstream.
Next Steps: ISPs have been attempting to contact residents now eligible for service. Residents in Early Action Project areas can now also contact the provider in their area to sign up for service.
Service to Remaining Connectivity Opportunity Areas
Beaver County will invite local ISPs to submit proposals to provide service to the remaining unserved and underserved areas identified during the Data Collection & Feasibility Study in 2021. Unserved locations have no access to wired internet service at speeds that meet the FCC threshold of 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload, meaning the internet connection is slow and unreliable or nonexistent. Underserved locations have internet service at or above the FCC threshold but with no access to wired broadband service at speeds 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload, this can lead to slow or unreliable service.
Digital Navigator Program
Digital Navigator Program Planning Underway
Planning is well underway to design a program for those who need help learning how to use the Internet and getting access to equipment. Tech2Elevate, a non-profit associated with Paramount Pursuits is working with the county on program operation and management, to create a 5-year Operations Plan. We are working with various partners to identify suitable locations countywide. The final selection of program launch locations is dependent on staff capacity and will be determined in collaboration with Tech2Elevate through their Operations Plan.
Next Step: Complete the 5-Year Operations Plan
Connect County-Owned Towers via Fiber
Connect County-Owned Towers via Fiber: Planning Underway
Providing better connectivity to emergency services in Beaver County is a top priority. Connecting all eight county-owned radio towers to fiber will enable direct connectivity for emergency service communications systems and allows for the wireless radio system to serve as a backup, instead of the primary communication system. Though the fiber will assist emergency services’ needs, it may also be available to provide middle-mile service to businesses and homes.
Next Step: Identify Internet Service Provider
Broadband Utility Connection Fund
Broadband Utility Connection Fund: Future
This program will be designed next year after the providers have been selected to service the unserved areas in Beaver County. The new fund will be set up to offer financial support to people who still do not have service to their home or business due to extenuating circumstances. More details will be provided once the fund is established.
Next Step: After Providers are Selected, Planning for this Fund Begins
Continued Digital Equity Analyses
Mobile Connectivity Study: Future
One of the main issues identified through the initial connectivity study field work and public survey is that mobile wireless connectivity is very poor throughout the county. Additional data collection will be conducted on mobile wireless in areas not visited during the initial study.
Next Step: After Providers are Selected, this Study Will Begin
Future Unserved Areas Study: Future
In leveraging ARPA and other federal funding to support broadband implementation of 100 Mbps download speed and 100 Mbps upload speed, newly connected areas will have faster internet service than other areas of the county. A new planning study will help county leadership identify and prioritize future funding for broadband expansion.
Next Step: After Providers are Selected, Planning for this Fund Will Begin
About the Beaver County Planning Commission (BCPC)
The mission of the Beaver County Planning Commission is to provide strategic, coordinated, and objective guidance and oversight to the growth, planning, and development activities of Beaver County. It is the goal of the Commission to ensure that Beaver County’s future is characterized by a healthy environment, economy, and society achieved through proactive planning, citizen representation, effective communication, and the provision of professional services.
- Ms. Judith Charlton
- Ms. Heather Harmon-Kennedy
- Mr. Mychael Wells
- Ms. Cynthia Vannoy
- Mr. Christopher Ruppen
- Mr. Michael Dyrwal
- Mr. Howard Stuber
- Mr. Anthony Rosatone
- Ms. Dee Dixon
- Solicitor – Samuel J. Orr, III, Esq.
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