While those in the more densely populated areas of the county barely think about connecting to the internet, residents of the more rural areas are suffering serious repercussions because they can’t access broadband service.

On Thursday, Dec. 8, Gov. Tom Wolf announced the state has received $6.6 million in federal funds to close the digital divide and make broadband accessible for all residents of the state.

“Pennsylvania’s lack of affordable, accessible broadband is one of the biggest challenges holding our economy back,” Wolf said in a news release. “This $6.6 million is the beginning of a generational change waiting for Pennsylvanians.”

He said with guidance from the state Broadband Authority, distribution will be carefully targeted for guaranteed progress.

Kevin Boozel, county commissioner, said he attended two seminars on broadband inequity in Pennsylvania during an elected officials retreat last week.

Boozel said he learned that the Federal Communications Commission has created a map showing where broadband access is readily available down to areas where no broadband exists.

With the exception of Moraine State Park, most of Butler County appears as having 80% to 100% broadband access.

He said people whose connectivity does not fit that description can fill out a form to challenge the map. The map and challenge forms can be found at broadbandmap.fcc.gov.

“People should check their location on the map and challenge it if it says they have broadband and they don’t,” Boozel said. “That map needs to be cleaned up.”

Regarding the availability of broadband in Butler County, Boozel said some rural areas have no internet service while others’ connection speed is so slow it renders their devices useless.

“There is no question we have a digital divide between those who have digital access and those who don’t,” he said.

The issue with providing internet access to homes and businesses in the county’s northern communities is twofold: buildings located far apart and woodsy, hilly terrain.

He knows of a woman who lost her job when she was required to begin working at home full time and had no internet access.

Another issue is children who don’t have internet access.

“When kids don’t have access, they start out at a disadvantage to the rest of the world,” Boozel said. “Every year they go without those services, they fall further and further behind.”

The lack of broadband access can limit others regarding employment or higher education opportunities if they grew up without access.

“Access is going to be critical as we move forward,” Boozel said.

He said the lack of internet access could affect the county’s population and economy as well.

“If we don’t provide the tools people need, they won’t move here,” Boozel said.

Boozel said a federal plan is to ensure everyone in all 50 states has access to broadband, and that plan is now being finalized in Pennsylvania.

He said the county will apply for broadband grants through the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission in collaboration with other counties.

He said many counties are worse than Butler regarding broadband access, while many are better.

“I think we are a little better than some counties, because we have the internet for the most part, but we do have those digital deserts,” Boozel said.

One of those digital deserts is Worth Township on the Mercer County border. Shari Kreutz, township secretary, is doing her part to correct that situation.

Kreutz said the cost to hang Armstrong cable wires on the township’s utility poles would be $2.1 million, which is an impossible number for a small, rural municipality.

“In our area, only satellite is available,” she said. “I have it at my home, and it’s very unreliable.”

She said the main cost in placing Armstrong lines is the high cost of stringing the wires on First Energy utility poles.

The poles would need to be upgraded and Armstrong would have to comply with several First Energy requirements.

The rental would be $1,000 to $3,000 per month and $500 to $1,000 per pole for First Energy to inspect them to determine if they upgrades were done properly.

“If we could get the grant money to help get these poles upgraded and the lines in, we’re going to do that,” Kreutz said.

She said her goal is to have as many township residents as possible fill out forms to challenge the FCC broadband map.

But a bit of irony is included in filling out the forms.

“If you have no internet, how are you going to get online and challenge this map?” Kreutz said.

She feels for residents who lack broadband access.

“It’s so difficult for people,” she said. “When kids had to do online learning (during the coronavirus pandemic), these parents had nothing.”

Boozel said the first order of business is for as many county residents as possible to view the FCC broadband map and fill out the challenge forms if it is incorrect.

“I’ve been on that map all week and I really don’t agree with it,” he said.