The Corona Virus has shown us the importance of needing reliable internet with optional data speeds based on household size and business needs.
It’s been an ongoing concern and issue for rural Pennsylvanians, as well as most of the other rural citizens across our nation, regarding internet access. Most areas are limited to low speed internet, if any at all. There is insufficient coverage and speed availability to most rural residents. 
The need to work from home, school our children from home, and run a business has left us in a situation to where that is unattainable. The current providers, such as Frontier Communications in Susquehanna County, offer internet that is not dependable nor has the necessary speed. The infrastructure is so deteriorated that those who do have it are lucky to get it to work a collective week out of a month! Some areas offer satellite internet, but again it’s not dependable. Data is capped and speeds reduced after meeting the cap. The latency of these services poses an issue. Most companies that allow or require remote work require consistent speeds and low latency. Without the two, the remote access to company systems is severely slow. These choices , i.e. satellite, are also much more expensive. You also may need to purchase the equipment outright which can cost several hundred, if not thousands, of dollars just to hook up the service. Then you need to upgrade whenever the company chooses it requires it and the expenses add up. 

We need reliable, AFFORDABLE, high speed internet to allow us to continue to work and educate our children from home. Our businesses need internet in order to accept credit cards for purchases and run other applications that are mostly web based now. The idea that we can't view bank statements, credit card statements, pay bills, etc. is also costly. Late fees can be accessed, fees for paper statements, etc. All because we have a NEED for internet and cannot obtain it.  
This petition is asking for consideration in helping us get internet lines updated AND new companies to allow to service the rural community. Please help us get the speeds and connection we need. High speed internet via means such as Fiber Optic is much needed. We should not be denied the same privilege as others simply because of our rural location. This is LOCATION DISCRIMINATION.