New Program to Bring Increased Connectivity to
Pennsylvania School Districts
(Mechanicsburg, PA) The Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA)
announced a new wireless infrastructure program from PSBA exclusive
provider Diamond Communications, a private wireless infrastructure company,
with the goal of delivering increased cell connectivity to Pennsylvania public
school districts.
“We are very excited to launch this program as reliable cellular service is
critical, especially during emergencies, and through this initiative, districts can
proactively market properties to the wireless carriers for the development of
new communication towers. The goal is to enhance cellular connectivity in and
around the schools and create opportunities to generate revenue from leasing
district land for new communication towers or other infrastructure,” said PSBA
CEO Nathan Mains.
“Our new program, ConnectED PA, is designed to simplify the process so that
school board directors do not need to work with multiple carriers or parties
but can work with Diamond as a central point of contact where Diamond
handles communications with the wireless carriers. This approach strengthens
district resources while expanding reliable connectivity for students, staff and
the broader community,” said PSBA Chief Impact Officer Britta Barrickman.
Data shows that approximately 65% of school districts in Pennsylvania have at
least one major carrier with unreliable coverage. As Pennsylvania school
districts increasingly rely on cellular networks to handle both internal and
external emergency notifications, consistent and dependable coverage has
become critical. Reliable communication is not only important for emergency
personnel and first responders, but also for parents and school administrators
who exchange information through wireless calls and text messages. Strong
cell signal coverage and sufficient network capacity are also essential for
accurate location sharing, especially during emergencies. Collaborating with an
experienced wireless infrastructure provider can help schools strengthen on-
campus connectivity while generating additional revenue.
“Our goal was to establish a program that supports school districts struggling
with limited connectivity, helping them close the digital gap and build safer,
more connected schools and communities,” Barrickman said.
“We are excited to start this program with PSBA,” said Peter Woodbury,
President of Strategic Partnerships at Diamond Communications. “Today's
schools depend on reliable connectivity to support both education and safety.
This partnership will empower districts to enhance wireless coverage through a
streamlined process for identifying, marketing and developing wireless
infrastructure. By working together, we can speed up deployment, create new
opportunities for schools, and provide wireless carriers with greater reliability
and certainty.”
Through the ConnectED PA program, Diamond assists school districts in
evaluating their existing cellular coverage and identifying opportunities to
enhance connectivity. The initiative includes marketing school properties to
wireless carriers and facilitating infrastructure investments on district-owned
land — all at no cost to the school districts. Participating districts retain full
approval rights for all opportunities and benefit from long-term revenue
stream generated from any cell tower deployments.
About PSBA
As the first school board association, PSBA has provided services, advocacy and
counsel to inform and engage the local leadership of the commonwealth's public
schools for more than 130 years. PSBA represents over 4,500 school directors,
with voluntary membership encompassing nearly 100% of school entities
statewide. Leading the charge with the unified voice of members, advocates and
partners, PSBA is dedicated to promoting exceptional public education for
Pennsylvania's students.
PSBA Media Contact:
Mackenzie Christ
Director of Marketing and Communications
[email protected]
(717) 590-5623
PSBA ConnectED PA Contact:
Michelle Zetlemoyer
Director of Services
[email protected]
(717) 590-5646
About Diamond Co