State officials held two meetings in Carbon County on Friday in the hopes of getting insight on the needs of the residents with regards to broadband connectivity.

Representatives from the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority met with residents at meetings in Palmerton and Nesquehoning. There were a handful of organizations and residents that attended each meeting.

Sheri Collins, a former member of the PA Broadband Development Authority and a subcontractor for the project, led the meetings.

At the Panther Valley area meeting, organizations that attended included representatives from St. Luke’s, Panther Valley School District, the Carbon County Commissioners’ office, Lehigh Carbon Community College, U.S. Rep. Susan Wild’s office and internet service provider Blue Ridge Cable.

“We’re trying to understand what your challenges are,” Collins said. “2020 shifted the conversation and put a bright light on the topic.”

Collins added that this is a historic moment because of the billions the federal government has released to establish a stronger broadband platform for unserved and under-served communities. Pennsylvania received $1.16 billion to help with broadband infrastructure development.

She asked the people in attendance what they thought about the current broadband connectivity for the area.

Answers included reduced connectivity, not having access to various providers, longer download times, residents not being able to afford it and the increased need because of online learning.

Robert Palazzo, principal at Panther Valley Elementary School, said the people with students in the school face connectivity problems and students not being able to complete assignments at home because they don’t have internet.

Kerri Quick of St. Luke’s, who partners with Panther Valley to provide various services, added that there are a lot of working poor in the community, meaning that they are working to make ends meet, but don’t have enough to cover an additional cost for internet services.

Collins agreed, saying that the commonwealth and country are seeing more requirements for everyone to be connected.

“Connectivity is something people want and what they deserve,” she said, noting that the federal government is working to make sure states are implementing and maximizing this money so broadband can serve communities for years to come.

Joe Lorah, director of Government and Public Affairs at Blue Ridge Communications, who attended both meetings, said that the company is trying to bring affordable service to the area, noting that in December, the lowest internet speeds were increased and the price was decreased and now includes a modem.

Lorah added that residents who qualify for the Affordability Connectivity Program, which provides a $30 a month credit for the internet bill, would essentially receive their internet for free.

Blue Ridge is one of a handful of companies that provide internet service for the county. Others include Atlantic Broadband in the northern tier of Carbon, and Kinetic/Windstream.

Blue Ridge also got rid of data limits, Lorah said as a way to try and help the communities, especially since the pandemic increased the need for telework, telehealth and teleschooling.

The group also discussed possible options to help better serve the communities, like supporting libraries to better provide internet, as well as helping with the last mile of connectivity so fiber could be laid for the infrastructure.

The two meetings were part of a series of meetings that were being held across the state before a state five-year plan is finalized and submitted to the federal government for approval.

In addition, an online survey is available to gather more information from residents.

More information on the authority and the plans for the commonwealth can be found at https://dced.pa.gov/broadband. The survey can be accessed at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PA_BCDA.