Pa. gets $130M from stimulus for educational, rural broadband

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania is getting nearly $130 million in federal stimulus money to develop broadband technology.

More than $99 million is for the Pennsylvania Research and Education Network, or PennREN.

The 1,700-mile fiber optic network will expand broadband Internet access to 60 institutions, including public and private universities, schools, libraries and medical facilities in 39 counties across south and central Pennsylvania.

More than $29 million will be used for similar purposes in underserved areas north of Interstate 80.

The cities of Titusville, Dubois, Scranton and Wilkes-Barre will be among those to share this public system that should improve Internet access for institutions and communities that had been isolated by mountainous terrain.