Salem supervisors approve 'Broadband Ready' application to position township for future funding

Salem Township’s Board of Supervisors voted Aug. 21 to submit a Broadband Ready Communities application intended to position the township for incoming state and federal broadband funds. The board approved Resolution No. 25-2024 unanimously.

The resolution commits Salem to a set of preparatory actions — among them announcing the program at public meetings, managing permitting for easements, and adopting related resolutions — intended to make the township eligible to receive broadband funding when it is allocated. "This is the beginning stages of the process to provide broadband services in the township where there isn't any," Supervisor Bob Zundel said during the meeting.

Supervisor Kerry Jobe told the board Salem had been identified as one of roughly 20 municipalities in Westmoreland County that need broadband help and that the resolution signals the township will follow the program requirements so it is "ready when the money is ready to be allocated." Meeting minutes cite approximately $1.6 billion previously allocated to the state under the American Rescue Plan Act as federal funding that has been distributed to the state for broadband initiatives.

Resident Lisa Segina asked what the designation would provide; officials said the designation does not itself build broadband but makes the township eligible for grant and deployment programs and standardizes permitting and easement processes ahead of formal funding. The board recorded the motion and vote as unanimous. The township said additional details about the Broadband Ready Program will be posted on the township website and that staff will follow program posting and permitting requirements.

The board will next consider implementation steps as program guidance and potential funding timelines become available.