New York Receives $140 Million to Expand Broadband Infrastructure
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEXSTAR) — The state of New York has received more than $140 million to expand broadband infrastructure, providing high-speed internet to over 60,000 households and businesses through the ConnectALL Municipal Infrastructure Grant Program.
Awards Breakdown
Awards include $29.9 million for Jamestown, $11 million for Orleans County, $30 million for Schoharie County, $26 million for Central New York, $13.1 million for Franklin County, and $29.9 million for Sullivan County.
- Jamestown will use an open-access fiber network to serve all 14,447 homes and businesses
- Orleans County will expand wireless to 11,000 locations, with digital literacy programs to for low-income households
- Schoharie County will build 298 miles of fiber to connect over 4,000 rural homes and businesses
- In Central New York, the CNYNET project will create a regional open-access fiber network to serve over 6,600
- Franklin County will build fiber and wireless infrastructure, connecting 1,567 locations
- Sullivan County will build 253 miles of fiber, reaching over 22,000 homes and businesses in a remote, mountainous area
ConnectALL Initiative
Part of a broader, $1 billion ConnectALL Initiative, the project will build over 1,200 miles of broadband infrastructure in rural New York, where residents struggle with access. Paid for mostly through the U.S. Treasury Capital Projects Fund and the American Rescue Plan, the program prioritizes affordability and reliability, they said.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the funds for open-access fiber, wireless hubs, and public-private partnerships to keep networks publicly owned or publicly controlled. They also announced an interactive ConnectALL dashboard that transparently tracks the progress of the state’s broadband projects.
ConnectALL Goals
ConnectALL works to install reliable internet access statewide, supporting education, healthcare, jobs, and economic development. Since launching in 2022, ConnectALL expanded broadband infrastructure to over 87,000 homes and businesses in New York, according to Schumer and Hochul.
Conclusion
The ConnectALL Municipal Infrastructure Grant Program is a significant step towards providing high-speed internet to rural areas of New York, supporting the state’s economy and residents. With the funding, the state aims to build over 1,200 miles of broadband infrastructure, connecting over 60,000 households and businesses.
FAQs
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What is the ConnectALL Municipal Infrastructure Grant Program?
The program provides funding to expand broadband infrastructure in rural areas of New York, providing high-speed internet to over 60,000 households and businesses.
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What is the total funding for the program?
The program received over $140 million in funding.
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What are the goals of the ConnectALL Initiative?
The initiative aims to install reliable internet access statewide, supporting education, healthcare, jobs, and economic development.
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What is the timeline for the program?
The program has already expanded broadband infrastructure to over 87,000 homes and businesses in New York since launching in 2022.
