A broadband study that would provide insight on the needs of Carbon County showed that money will be available for the county to partner with existing internet service providers to help improve underserved areas.

On Thursday, Dr. Andrew Cohill, president and CEO of Design Nine Inc. of Blackburg, Virginia, the company hired to complete the study for the county, presented the company’s findings regarding broadband access in the area. The survey has been in the works since last December.

Cohill said that overall, the study found that the county should advocate for broadband by partnering with current internet service providers to improve on the service they provide and help secure state and federal grants that are opening up to cover expansion of broadband services to underserved areas.

“We are not recommending that the county become an internet service provider,” Cohill said. “We are not recommending that the county compete with the private sector. We think an appropriate role for the county is an advocate for broadband on behalf of the citizens and businesses that need better broadband and to work cooperatively and collaboratively with the existing incumbent providers in the county.”

Carbon County is currently served by Atlantic Broadband, Blue Ridge Communications/PenTeleData, and Kinetic/Windstream.

Cohill briefly highlighted some figures from the residential surveys it completed.

According to the results, he said that people “were clearly passionate about broadband and its importance to the county.”

Fifty percent said they were reasonably happy with their current broadband service, while another 50 percent said they were either dissatisfied or very dissatisfied.

Thirty percent said that the availability of broadband affected where they chose to live; and 88 percent of the respondents felt that the county should play some kind of role in facilitating better broadband.

In addition, the company reviewed about 80 pages of written comments of both issues, and compliments on current services.

Primary complaints seemed to be upload speeds since the pandemic has grown video conferencing, telework and education.

Commissioner Chris Lukasevich said that some of the questions like one that included the cost for internet service, could have confused people because of bundling cable, internet and phone into one bill.

He thanked Cohill for his team’s work. He said in addition to the residential survey, meetings with hospitals, schools, libraries, first responders and municipal officials were held to see what was needed.

Commissioner Rocky Ahner said the study confirmed what the county has to do - work with the internet service providers who are already established in the county.

Contacted Friday about the study, Joe Lorah, director of Government and Public Affairs for Blue Ridge Communications, said “Blue Ridge and PenTeleData have had a long-standing relationship with Carbon County and we will continue to work with the county to provide the residents and businesses with the best technology available.

“Even though we expressed our concern about inaccurate information directly to Design Nine early in the process, the final study remains flawed and contains inaccurate information regarding service availability and pricing as well as questionable interpretations of some of the gathered data. Our mission will continue to serve residents, schools, libraries, healthcare and all types of businesses, both big and small, with industry leading technology and we look forward to working with the commissioners to advance that mission for our county.”

With regards to funding a broadband plan, Cohill said that approximately $42 billion is opening up in federal funds that will be spread out to states for grants to improve broadband services across the country; as well as funding opportunities on the state level that will be opening up for 2023.

He recommended the county work with providers to apply for these funds, which will be able to help further projects.

“Pennsylvania is likely to get at least a billion dollars,” Cohill said. “ ... There’s going to be an opportunity for Carbon County to get a fair share of that money that would go a long way to solving the access issue in the rural parts of the county.”

For those interested in reviewing the 170-page study in its entirety, the commissioners have made it available on the county website at www.carboncountypa.gov/news_detail_T4_R9.php.

Editor’s Note: The Times News LLC is a member of the Pencor Family of Companies that also includes Blue Ridge Communications and PenTeleData.