News
- Published on: 12/7/2021
The York County Commissioners at their Dec. 1 public meeting authorized publishing a public Request
for Information, or RFI, for private construction and operation of last mile broadband services in four southern York County boroughs, including New Freedom, Railroad, Glen Rock and Seven Valleys. The “last mile” is a term used to describe the final leg of the infrastructure that physically brings the internet signal to a home or business. On average in the four boroughs, 28 percent of households lack any high-speed internet access, such as cable, fiber or DSL service. Many households pay for internet service that does not meet the federal definition of “high speed.”
The RFI will solicit interest and intent by private operators to build and operate last mile networks off of the 16 miles of fiber optic broadband infrastructure installed by York County, in collaboration with York County Economic Alliance, underneath the Heritage Rail Trail. That project was initiated in late 2020 and completed in early 2021. This fiber represents the first phase of a 333-mile countywide network that will attract private providers to offer last mile service to residents in underserved parts of our county.
“This RFI will address the potential to get high-speed internet access to homes and businesses adjacent to the initial conduit along the Rail Trail and serves as a pilot project for future YoCo Fiber initiatives across the county,” said York County President Commissioner Julie Wheeler. “This is the next step toward bringing internet providers into our community to invest in this critical process that will bring internet to many homes and businesses that do not have access.”
In other business: The commissioners approved the following applicants to be rewarded the York County Open Space and Land Preservation Grant Program funding:
• Franklintown Borough- 2.6 acres - $58,125
• Susquehanna National Heritage Area - 71 acres - $150,000
• Spring Grove Borough - 6.87 acres - $48,808
• York County Parks - 7.88 acres - $52,000
• Shrewsbury Township - Southern York County Regional Comprehensive Plan update - $50,000