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Commissioner: NTIA BEAD award gives CoreConnect $90.66 million to build fiber across 10 counties including Cameron
Summary
Commissioner Moate reported that the NTIA has approved $90,661,771 in BEAD funds to CoreConnect for a 10-county open-access fiber project intended to connect over 10,000 units; he outlined GeoBoard priorities to improve GIS, parcel data, and shared services to support such infrastructure efforts.
Commissioner Moate reported to the board Feb. 5 that the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority have finalized a BEAD award of $90,661,771 to CoreConnect for an open-access fiber project serving 10 counties, including Cameron County.
Moate, who represents the county on the GeoBoard, described the award as a major regional investment in future-proof broadband infrastructure and outlined several county priorities to leverage the project: ensure Cameron County’s 911 emergency services GIS data are current and standardized; promote county participation in a statewide authoritative parcel/land-records data initiative; seek stable funding for aerial imagery and lidar; increase county data-sharing and metadata practices; and expand geospatial use for local economic development and shared services to reduce costs across neighboring counties.
Moate said CoreConnect’s open-access model is intended to support small businesses, rural households and low-income residents by allowing multiple service providers to use common fiber infrastructure, and that the project aims to connect more than 10,000 residential and business units across the region. He also reported outreach to the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health to plan a possible afternoon/evening town hall in June or July in collaboration with neighboring counties to inform residents about the project. No formal action was taken on the item; it was reported as an informational update during commissioner reports.
The commissioners did not vote on the BEAD award itself; the report served to inform local planning and follow-up coordination with state and regional partners.
