The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted internet access deficiencies in rural areas.

Government is throwing money at it but what that will mean on the ground is anything but clear.

The county commissioners have expressed a desire to use some of the $7.8 million the county was awarded in Rescue Plan funding for broadband too.

Warren County Commissioner Tricia Durbin discussed the issue with the Warren County Intergovernmental Co-Op on Wednesday night.

The county, she detailed, is exploring multiple potential options to improve internet service in the county.

The big ticket item is a $20 million federal grant in conjunction with Youngsville Television.

“(We) have not heard back from them at all,” Durbin said, noting that she doesn’t think no news is good news.

She explained there was $288 million made available in that funding stream and the county is “asking for a significant chunk of that. That’s a wait and see.”

Durbin said she’s working with the county’s IT contractor, Bill Gallagher, and Harry Crissy with the Penn State Extension. That includes exploring “what third party providers are in the community” and “thinking through pockets of opportunity there.” For example, could an existing provider’s reach be boosted with funding.

That would be one way, she said, for the county’s funding to “create a difference in the community.”

She told the municipal officials that there are other federal funding streams that require areas to meet a threshold of underserved.

“We do meet that threshold,” she added. “There will be more assistance with that.”

But Durbin said the challenge now is the “confusing” nature of the funding streams.

“It’s going to be everywhere and nowhere is my fear,” she said. “Pockets of money here, there and everywhere.”