The Home Page Network

WELLSBORO – The deployment of rural broadband was one of the focuses of discussion at a roundtable event held by the House Majority Policy Committee at the Penn Wells Hotel in Wellsboro, Tioga County, said Reps. Donna Oberlander (R-Clarion/Armstrong/Forest) and Clint Owlett (R-Tioga/Bradford/Potter).

The roundtable discussion featured nearly 50 educators, elected officials, business owners, nonprofit organizations, and representatives from various industries, namely health care, energy, construction, food service, engineering and real estate. The attendees included organizations and individuals who have made significant contributions within the Tioga County community.

“Thank you to the entire Tioga County community for welcoming us and talking to us about the issues important to your businesses and organizations,” said Oberlander. “From rural broadband to emergency response, we understand these issues are crucial to everyone in your area. We will take your concerns and ideas back to Harrisburg so that we can craft good public policy to address your needs.”

Two other major topics covered today included emergency response funding and recruitment, along with transportation infrastructure and upgrade of U.S. Route 15 to Interstate 99, from Lycoming County to the New York line. Much of the discussion involved an update about current efforts underway, the need to coordinate efforts and support, and ways to fund improvements on both issues.

“I want to thank the Policy Committee for coming to Tioga County to hear directly from our business owners, organization leaders and elected officials about how policies at the state level can directly translate into stronger rural communities,” Owlett said. “We covered a wide range of issues this morning, and I believe our conversation will make a difference when advancing legislation at the state Capitol.”

Other members attending were Reps. Martin Causer (R-Cameron/McKean/Potter), Garth Everett (R-Lycoming/Union), Eric Nelson (R-Westmoreland) and Tommy Sankey (R-Clearfield/Cambria).

The event was part of the House Republican Caucus’s #GoodJobs4PA legislative package.