Federal officials missed a self-imposed deadline to review state plans for rural broadband expansion. As a result, hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding for Pennsylvania remain on hold.
Congress created the Rural Broadband program in 2021. Federal officials overhauled the program in 2025 to lower costs and required states to submit revised plans. Officials said they would approve or deny each plan within 90 days. Pennsylvania and ten other states are still waiting for a decision more than a month after that deadline passed in early December.
Pennsylvania’s revised plan would reduce the number of locations eligible for fiber internet service. The plan would shift some locations to satellite or wireless internet instead. These changes would lower total spending in Pennsylvania by more than $300 million.
Without federal approval, the Commonwealth cannot finalize agreements with companies selected to receive funding. Those companies cannot begin construction until the review is complete. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration, which reviews state plans, has not explained the delay.
About the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC
For 140 years, the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC has served as the region’s catalyst for economic prosperity. The organization combines business, community, and economic development services to enhance the region’s vitality and livability. The Chamber is a five-star accredited chamber through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce—a distinction held by fewer than 1 percent of chambers nationwide. CREDC is the Certified Economic Development Organization (CEDO) approved by the Commonwealth’s Department of Community and Economic Development to perform economic development activities using Pennsylvania’s funding programs in Cumberland, Dauphin, and Perry counties.
