Accessing broadband in Somerset County one step closer

SOMERSET — The results are in from the Connect Somerset County Broadband Study and Survey and now the county is moving to the next step, an "early action project" in one of the communities.

The multi-faceted project that began last September identified gaps in high-speed internet access and connectivity throughout the county with the response of residents and business owners who responded to the survey.

Joseph Bzorek, project manager, with Michael Baker International, which conducted the survey, said he is pleased with how the results have moved the project another step forward.

The early action project

Middlecreek Township was chosen as the first early action project community because it will have a more immediate impact on Somerset County, Bzorek said.

"The key points there through the selection process is that they're (Armstrong) already invested. They already have the area fielded, the engineering piece completed. They also have materials on hand ready to get started," he said.

The Middlecreek project had been identified as one of those projects where resources can be identified and, as a result, a very quick response to the need can be offered.

"We are talking behind the scenes on how we will be able to work with that particular provider to make that project a reality," said county Commissioner Pamela Tokar-Ickes.

The project will affect hundreds of homes in the Middlecreek area alone.

"Right now at the beginning of the project, we are looking at about 2,000 homes that do not have service will have service," Bzorek said at a commissioners meeting.

"It is all the commissioners"

Bzorek credits the work of the commissioners for moving the project ahead.

It has been nearly 20 years and several boards of commissioners have made connecting residents and county businesses through broadband a priority.

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"All this information. The homework they did. The initial report. It is all the commissioners," Bzorek said.

He credits the commissioners with moving ahead in their quest to link up all homes and businesses through their study as part of the broadband initiative.

"It is all the commissioners, all the support we got," Bzorek said.

"Through that process, there were surveys that went out viewing and consisting of information and identifying the unserved and underserved homes, as well as the served homes, within Somerset County.

What's next

In this report, the county was able to leverage the information gathered to identify where broadband was needed and able to partner with Verizon. Commissioners approved an application by Verizon on April 18 that added 1,038 homes.

Several boards of commissioners over at least 20 years have worked on obtaining broadband capability for every resident who wants and needs it.

"This is very exciting," Bzorek said. It is nice to see, through the factfinding stage, all the work has been done."

In today's world, it is almost a necessity for people. It opens up more communication channels, aids public safety, job searches and school work, to name a few things, he said.

This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Accessing broadband in Somerset County one step closer