HARRISBURG – The Senate Communications and Technology Committee will hold its fourth and final public hearing on ways Pennsylvania can improve access to high-speed broadband internet next week at the state Capitol, according to committee chair Senator Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York).
To date, the committee has conducted three public hearings across the state featuring state and national experts on the issue as well as local proponents and stakeholders on how best to address the growing problem of more residents getting left behind in the digital divide.
“We have heard how a lack of high-speed internet access adversely impacts a whole range of industries in our commonwealth that is to the detriment of our overall economic competitiveness,” Phillips-Hill said. “This final hearing is the culmination of those hearings with experts who can now help us map out our next steps. We must take a deliberate approach to resolve the problem, because, as we’ve seen in the past, throwing money at a problem often leads to abuse of taxpayer resources.”
The committee hearing will be held in Hearing Room 8 E-A on Monday, September 23 at 10 a.m.
The hearing will feature Secretary Curt Topper of the Department of General Services, research experts from Penn State, Mercatus Center at George Mason University, Pew Charitable Trusts’ Broadband Research Initiative, as well as representatives of Comcast, SEDA Council of Governments and the Fund for the Northern Tier.
You can learn more about the hearing, view the agenda and read testimony at communications.pasenategop.com.