The Lancaster County Board of Commissioners is committing $10 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act money to support the development of broadband infrastructure in rural Lancaster County.
ARPA provides a substantial infusion of resources into Lancaster County to meet pandemic response needs, including expanding and improving access to fiber-based broadband throughout the County.
The funding is part of $61.5 million in total ARPA funding Lancaster County is receiving and will be utilized to install approximately 170 miles of conduit stretching between cities, villages, unincorporated communities and schools throughout rural Lancaster County.
In turn, private sector broadband providers will install fiber in the conduit and provide residential and commercial fiber-based broadband services.
“The pandemic has highlighted the divide in access to broadband services between the City of Lincoln and rural Lancaster County, says Chair Deb Schorr. “We are pleased that ARPA funds can be used to deliver these essential services to households and businesses across the county.”
Construction of the Lancaster County broadband project is tentatively set to begin in April of 2022, with a projected completion date in June of 2023.