Pickett’s Bill Would Maximize Federal Funding for Broadband Expansion in Rural Pennsylvania

March 26, 2025

HARRISBURG – Legislation sponsored by Rep. Tina Pickett (R-Bradford/Wyoming) would help to maximize federal funding for broadband infrastructure development in Pennsylvania by clarifying how prevailing wage requirements would be applied on such expansion projects.

Pickett’s proposal would require the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry to reclassify broadband workers as “teledata employees” rather than “electric linemen,” who command higher salaries and benefits under the state’s prevailing wage law. The department has refused a request to change the classification.

“Electric linemen do highly skilled and potentially dangerous work – and they are paid accordingly – but when their wage rates are applied inappropriately to teledata workers, it means labor costs on broadband infrastructure projects will be artificially inflated,” said Pickett. “Ultimately, this means fewer rural residents will gain access to high-speed broadband internet through the federal funding allocated to Pennsylvania.”

“Simply, this legislation puts into state law appropriate job classifications for broadband work like is done in many other states. Without this bill, federal money for broadband deployment projects won’t go nearly as far, meaning that people in rural areas of the state will be further left behind,” said Todd Eachus, president of the Broadband Communications Association of Pennsylvania. “We thank Rep. Pickett for her leadership on this critical issue and look forward to working with her to get everyone connected.”

In June 2023, Pennsylvania received $1.16 billion in federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program funding to assist in the expansion of high-speed broadband infrastructure across the state.

“It is critical that we use these federal dollars to maximize the buildout of the Commonwealth’s broadband infrastructure. Not only will this mean improved access to the commercial, educational and government services we typically think of when discussing this issue, it will also mean improving the access of rural residents to vital health care services,” Pickett added.

Pickett is currently seeking co-sponsors for her bill.

Representative Tina Pickett
110th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Andy Briggs
717-260-6474
abriggs@pahousegop.com
RepPickett.com / Facebook.com/RepPickett