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
Search here to find out if your location is targeted for new service access
There are approximately 1,745 locations that will receive access to new service as part of this program. The areas in blue in the interactive map below highlight those locations and are known as Connectivity Opportunity Areas (COAs). To find out if you are included:
Enter your address into the search bar in the upper left-hand corner of the map
Press the ‘Enter’ key or click on the magnifying glass icon
▇ If your address falls in the light blue shading, you are in the Connectivity Opportunity Areas (COAs). This area is included in the next phase. More information about COAs, can be found on our FAQ page.
▇ If your address falls in the dark blue shading, you are part of the Early Action Projects (EAPs). More information about the EAPs, can be found on our News & Updates page.
▇ If your address falls in the orange shading, it will receive access to service through a separate federal funding program called the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF). More information about RDOF areas, can be found on our FAQ page.
For the latest information on ongoing broadband activity in Beaver County, refer to our News & Updates page.
Early Action Projects Underway
Two Early Action Projects are advancing and will establish best practices for future connectivity project deployments in the county. One is in the southwest part of the county and the other is in northwest.
Armstrong will provide high-speed fiber service to Hanover Township. Fiber will be installed near Hanover Kendall Road, Airline Drive and Hanny Beaver Road. By connecting these areas, 65 unserved locations will be provided broadband access.
Windstream will provide high-speed service to Darlington Township, South Beaver Township, and Big Beaver Borough. Fiber will be installed along the Route 51 corridor including Route 551 and Stitt Road. By connecting these areas, 139 unserved locations will be provided broadband access.
Next Steps: Preliminary Design followed by Construction. Homeowners will receive letters when construction timing is set.
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.
Next Step: Identify Internet Service Providers for Remaining Locations in the County
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 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 advancing and will establish best practices for future connectivity project deployments in the county. One is in the southwest part of the county and the other is in northwest.
Armstrong will provide high-speed fiber service to Hanover Township. Fiber will be installed near Hanover Kendall Road, Airline Drive and Hanny Beaver Road. By connecting these areas, 65 unserved locations will be provided broadband access.
Windstream will provide high-speed service to Darlington Township, South Beaver Township, and Big Beaver Borough. Fiber will be installed along the Route 51 corridor including Route 551 and Stitt Road. By connecting these areas, 139 unserved locations will be provided broadband access.
Next Steps: Preliminary Design followed by Construction. Homeowners will receive letters when construction timing is set.
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.
Next Step: Identify Internet Service Providers for Remaining Locations in the County
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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