Local utility, wireless broadband stimulus hopefuls go head-to-head in Pennsylvania

The FCC earlier this fall invited incumbent service providers to comment on broadband stimulus applications in their areas of service. As expected, these companies are weighing in; and, not surprisingly, their comments are often raising the ire of the applicants. Pennsylvania is just one of the latest areas in which we’re seeing debates on this front.

Specifically, Armstrong Utilities Inc. in Butler, Pa., reportedly filed an objection to a broadband stimulus application by DigitalBridge Communications (News - Alert) and Schurz Communications (the parent company of local newspaper the Daily American), arguing that more than 50 percent of the area in the application is already served by broadband Internet and that more than 40 percent of people in that area already subscribe to the broadband Internet. DigitalBridge and Schurz are seeking millions of dollars in federal monies to provide wireless Internet service in Somerset County...