As has been made crystal clear by the coronavirus pandemic and other changes in society, high-speed internet service is rapidly evolving from a lifestyle option to a necessity across Pennsylvania. In response, the Revitalize Potter County Steering Committee has made the expansion of broadband service one of its highest priorities. It offers opportunities for economic development, expansion of health care and education, and many other public benefits, according to Potter County Planning/GIS Director Will Hunt. He is joined on the committee by Community Development Director Ellen Russell and Commissioners Nancy Grupp, Paul Heimel and Barry Hayman.
Many Potter County households and businesses have no high-speed internet service or lack sufficient capacity to meet today’s demands. Tri-County Rural Electric Cooperative’s (REC) high-speed internet project, which has already connected more than 1,000 Potter County customers, is filling many of the gaps. The steering committee is focusing on areas that are not serviced by Tri-Co Connections.
County leaders learned through extensive public surveying related to the 2020-29 Countywide Comprehensive Plan that expansion of broadband service is a high priority. “We are now taking steps to identify gaps in broadband service in and around Potter County, and to help identify potential partners and funding sources to fill the gaps,” Hunt explained. He added that the committee will be reaching out to service providers, as well as school districts, townships and boroughs, to investigate partnerships.
The committee has compiled an assessment as follows:
Opportunities
- Improving the quality of life for Potter County residents by closing the gap of the “digital divide.”
- Providing, through strategic partnerships, services to residents who currently do not have access to internet service of 25mb or greater speed, both download and upload;
- Accessing funds that are being made available from the federal and state governments to support the build-out in underserved areas.
Challenges
- Identify the homes and businesses not adequately served.
- Investigate partnerships and/or incentives to attract service providers.
- Development of delivery infrastructure, spearheaded by the county government with private-sector partners.
Steps Forward
- Conduct a feasibility study for development of expanded broadband service.
- Identify public and private partners/consultants to serve on or advise the committee.
- Research and analyze best practices from across the U.S.
Hundreds of people every week tap into the parcel viewer on the Potter County website. Aerial photography and geographic information system (GIS) technology are combined in the modern tool that’s available free to anyone through the combined efforts of the County Commissioners, GIS/Planning/Community Development Department and Assessment Office. From the website pottercountypa.net (click on GIS Department), internet users have instant access to basic assessment information and a visual representation of property lines within Potter County. This eliminates inconvenient visits to county business offices by individuals looking for basic property information and it’s available 24/7.
Potter County has also made use of its state-of-the-art GIS services to help pinpoint areas where reliable high-speed internet services is not available. It’s part of the commissioners’ “Broadband for All” initiative. Potter County’s advances were recently highlighted in a story appearing in the online publication, GovLoop. To access the article, click here.
To learn more about Broadband for All, click here.
Potter County Commissiones and the Potter County Planning Commission hosted an informational session at the Gunzburger Building on the Tri-County Rural Electric Cooperative (REC) high-speed internet project– and the options to expand internet service beyond Tri-County’s footprint. Aaron Young (shown), who recently joined the team as chief technology officer for the Tri-Co Connections subsidiary, explained that the build-out will start in Potter County and eventually extend to nearly 17,000 REC members in the cooperative’s seven-county service area. A $27 million loan will supplement federal and state grants to pay for the historic $77 million project, according to Bill Gerski (left), senior vice president for business development.
Construction is underway in Potter County for the first 100-mile phase, bringing fiber optic/broadband service to 723 residential, 626 seasonal, 98 small business, and 9 large business customers. Over the next five to six years, another 3,150 miles of fiber will be constructed. Tri-County REC itself will benefit in multiple ways, including remote monitoring of its electrical network, from substations to distribution lines and individual installations; smart meters, and other capabilities.
Potter County Planning Director Will Hunt explained that the county learned through extensive public surveying related to the new comprehensive plan that expansion of broadband service is a high priority in underserved areas. “We are now taking steps to identify gaps in broadband service in and around Potter County, and to help identify potential partners and funding sources that may be able to fill the gaps for rural broadband in areas not serviced by Tri-County,†Hunt added.
His office has compiled an assessment as follows:
Opportunities
- Improve the quality of life for Potter County residents by closing the gap of the “digital divide.â€
- Ability to close the gaps and provide services to residents who currently do not have access to internet service of 25mb or greater speed;
- Funds to be allocated by the state or federal governments to support the build-out in underserved areas.
Challenges
- Identify the homes and businesses not serviced by existing internet service providers.
- Identify potential providers to fill the service gaps.
- Investigate partnerships and/or incentives to attract service providers.
Steps Forward
- Create a planning committee to supervise a feasibility study for development of expanded broadband service.
- Identify public and private partners to serve on, or advise, the committee.