Leaders of the broadband and business communities have penned a letter to state Sen. Tracy Pennycuick (R-Berks, Montgomery), chair of the Senate Communications and Technology Committee, to take up legislation that will eliminate outdated state regulations hindering broadband deployment, especially in costly rural areas of the state.
The letter signed by Steven J. Samara, President of the Pennsylvania Telephone Association, Marissa Mitrovich Vice President of Public Policy for the Fiber Broadband Association, and Amy Brinton, Government Affairs Director of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, noted that the legislation, SB 491, sponsored by state Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York) “removes the costs associated with adherence to these outdated regulations and frees up limited capital for broadband deployment in the most rural and hard to reach parts of the Commonwealth that our customers and your constituents are demanding in order to fully participate in and take advantage of social and economic opportunities.”
Dear Senator Pennycuick:
The undersigned entities write to request your consideration of Senate Bill 491 which was referred to the Senate
Communications and Technology Committee on March 21, 2025, and modernizes the monopoly-era telco
regulations which unnecessarily remain in the Public Utility Code.
Prime sponsored by Senator Kristin Phillips-Hill, this legislation removes the costs associated with adherence to
these outdated regulations and frees up limited capital for broadband deployment in the most rural and hard to
reach parts of the Commonwealth that our customers and your constituents are demanding in order to fully
participate in and take advantage of social and economic opportunities.
At the recent “Fiber Day” event in Harrisburg, our organizations advocated for SB 491 as necessary to facilitate
the transition from legacy networks to cutting-edge fiber networks which will bring world class services to all
corners of Pennsylvania.
With more than $1 billion scheduled to be distributed to broadband providers in our state it is critical that we be
in a position to take advantage of this opportunity. Senate Bill 491 is the appropriate vehicle to do just that, and
we hope that you will schedule it for consideration by the Committee in the near future.
Steven J. Samara, President Pennsylvania Telephone Association, (717) 238-8311, Steve.Samara@patel.org. — representing the rural carriers listed below.
Amy Brinton, Government Affairs Director PA Chamber of Business and Industry, (717) 255-3252, abrinton@pachamber.org.
Marissa Mitrovich, Vice President of Public Policy Fiber Broadband Association, (202) 384-4289, mmitrovich@fiberbroadband,org.
Pennsylvania Telephone Association Member Companies
Armstrong Telephone Company, North
Armstrong Telephone Company, PA
Brightspeed
Citizens Telephone Company of Kecksburg
Consolidated Communications of Pennsylvania Company
Consolidated Communications of Pennsylvania Co. – Bentleyville
Consolidated Communications of Pennsylvania Co. – Marianna & Scenery Hill
Citizens Telecommunications Co. of NY Inc.
Frontier Communications Commonwealth Tel. Co.
Frontier Communications of Breezewood, LLC
Frontier Communications of Canton, LLC
Frontier Communications of Lakewood, LLC
Frontier Communications of Oswayo River, LLC
Frontier Communications of Pennsylvania, LLC
The Hancock Telephone Company
Hickory Telephone Company
Ironton Telephone Company
Lackawaxen Telecommunications Services
Laurel Highland Telephone Company
The North-Eastern PA Telephone Company
North Penn Telephone Company
Palmerton Telephone Company
Pennsylvania Telephone Company
Pymatuning Telephone Company
The South Canaan Telephone Company
TDS Telecom – Deposit Telephone Company
TDS Telecom – Mahanoy & Mahantango Telephone Co.
TDS Telecom – Sugar Valley Telephone Company
Venus Telephone Corporation
West Side Telecommunications Co.
Windstream Buffalo Valley, Inc.
Windstream Conestoga, Inc.
Windstream D&E, Inc.
Windstream Pennsylvania, LLC
Yukon Waltz Telephone Company
