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CoreConnect Fiber Broadband Network Receives BEAD Grant
FRANKLIN, Pa. — Oct. 12, 2026 — CoreConnect and the PA Broadband Development Authority (PBDA) have officially signed a grant contract for Broadband, Access, Equity and Deployment (BEAD) federal funds to build an open-access, fiber broadband internet network throughout Northwest and Northcentral Pennsylvania. This $90,661,771 in grant funding will provide service to 10,275 locations and 52 Community Anchor Institutions across 10 counties, including Cameron, Clarion, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango, and Warren.
“Securing this contract with the PBDA is a major milestone for our region, but we know the main question every household has right now is when fiber will reach their road," said Tom McKinley, CEO at CoreConnect. "While we cannot give an exact schedule just yet, we are committed to providing transparent updates on our website as the project unfolds. We have four years to complete this network, and our engineering partner, Bonfire Fiber, is actively finalizing the initial high-level design. We have also begun securing pole attachment agreements, alongside necessary environmental, historical, and municipal permits. There are many essential steps required before crews can begin hanging or burying fiber, and simultaneously, we are finalizing contracts with the construction partners who will handle our build.”
CoreConnect was formed to build this fiber internet network but, as a 501(c)3 nonprofit, the larger goal is to enable many economic drivers with this connectivity. In addition to providing high-speed internet for families and local community centers and libraries, the network will connect new health clinics and provide technology for safety nodes in outdoor recreation areas. The platform will make many more economic drivers viable in this region, from energy to mobile connectivity to tourism and public safety.
Governor Shapiro and the PBDA announced the first round of BEAD funding statewide on October 2, 2026, and they have also updated the Pennsylvania Project Location Map. Residents across Northwest Pennsylvania can visit www.coreconnect.community to check their address, view coverage details, and pre-register for direct construction updates as the rollout progresses. If your location falls within the CoreConnect service area, we are here to answer your questions and keep you informed.
About CoreConnect Community Broadband
CoreConnect Community Broadband is a 501(c)(3) non-profit open-access fiber network constructed to bridge Northwest Pennsylvania’s digital divide. The project spun from the Northwest Commission’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy that named connectivity as a core element to drive regional economic growth. CoreConnect delivers neutral, high-speed fiber infrastructure that powers community anchor institutions and enables retail service providers to connect unserved households. Learn more at www.coreconnect.community.
Contact:
Debra Frawley
Grants and Compliance Officer
frawleyd@coreconnect.community
(814) 954-3903