Venture out into remote areas across the four-county region –– and it’s a given that you’ll have little to no internet service.

In fact, more than 800,000 Pennsylvanians are without access to reliable, high-speed internet, representing more than 520,000 individuals in rural areas.

But soon more than 6,000 homes and businesses across the four-county region could be in the running for broadband internet at the same time as Gov. Tom Wolf recently announced the establishment of the PA Broadband Investment Incentive Program.

The Federal Communications Commission is accepting applications from broadband providers to take part in the summer’s Connect America Fund Phase II reverse auction. Across the country, the auction, set to kick off in July, will bring as much as $1.98 billion in support over the next decade to assist in the construction of high-speed Internet access to up to 1 million homes and small businesses in rural areas.

“This is a unique opportunity for broadband providers to expand their service,” said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. “More important, this is a unique opportunity to bring digital opportunity to parts of rural America that have been bypassed by the broadband revolution.”

Meanwhile, the state government plans to use $35 million of PennDOT’s infrastructure money to upgrade and expand broadband capacity along roadways, right of ways, intersections and furthering connections between PennDOT’s facilities.

“I welcome any initiative that brings more attention and focus to the issue of rural broadband access,” said state Rep. Martin Causer, R-Turtlepoint. “In an increasingly connected world, the lack of broadband service puts schools, farm operations and other businesses in rural areas like ours at a disadvantage, and it further limits our health care options.”

Officials have been working on the problem in the state legislature, and the topic emerged by the President Donald Trump administration at the White House Conference on Rural Prosperity held in January, Causer said.

“We don’t have many details yet about the governor’s initiative, so it’s difficult to say exactly what the impact will be on our communities,” he said. “There is a limited amount of funding available, and the cost to bring broadband service to rural areas is significant. But it is encouraging to see so much attention being paid to this issue, and I am hopeful it will lead to progress for rural Pennsylvania.”

Even the State Grange is suggesting that U.S. Route 6 along the Northern Tier should be a top priority for broadband since the route is the economic lifeline for that region of the state. The number of eligible homes and businesses in the region for the auction are around 2,140 in McKean County; 4,164 in Potter County; 258 in Cameron County; and 260 in Elk County.

“Hopefully, it can be a technology lifeline, too,” State Grange officials said.

The commonwealth, its local governments, telecommunications providers and citizens have a stake in reliable, high-speed Internet access, said David M. Sanko, executive director of the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors.

“This critical infrastructure superhighway of the future will give Pennsylvania a strong foundation to deliver 22nd-Century economic development, education, and healthcare,” he said. “The governor’s initiatives, deployed in the commonwealth’s safe and affordable townships, will enhance the quality of life and ensure that residents, new and long-standing, have great places to live, work, and raise families.”

Broadband Cable Association of Pennsylvania President Dan Tunnell said officials believe it is critical to the economic vitality of Pennsylvania.

“We are encouraged by his commitment to this important issue and look forward to working with Governor Wolf to expand our broadband services across Pennsylvanians,” he said.

A provider that wants to take part in the state initiative is subject to state guidelines and requirements that will ensure that service is delivered by June 30, 2022, and broadband speeds meet or exceed 100 Mbps, while encouraging the delivery of gigabit service.

“High-Speed Internet access is essential to growing our economy, expanding educational opportunities for our children, increasing access to modern healthcare, and improving the safety of our communities,” Wolf said. “For Pennsylvania to succeed we must close the digital divide ensuring every citizen and business has the access it needs to connect to the ever-expanding digital world in which we live and work.”