New York will receive $228.2 million in federal funding to connect tens of thousands of homes in rural and underserved communities to high-speed Internet.
Applications are being accepted now for the ConnectALL’s Municipal Infrastructure Program, an effort to bridge the so-called digital divide that has kept some New York communities from connecting to the most basic of 21st century advancements.
Gov. Kathy Hochul joined U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer in announcing the award Monday.
“This is how we can close the digital divide in Upstate New York — by making sure high-speed internet reaches corners of the state regardless of zip code,” U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer said Monday. “Broadband is not a luxury, it is a necessity, a utility as vital as electricity for success in our modern economy to ensure people can stay connected, have access to healthcare, jobs, and school.”
Who’s eligible in NY?
Public entities, municipal utilities, local or Tribal governments, utility cooperatives and their private sector partners. The money comes out of the American Rescue Plan’s capital projects fund in the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Broadband infrastructure will be owned by a public entity and made available to customers through Internet service providers.
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Are communities already benefitting?
Pilot projects in four upstate communities — the Village of Sherburne in Chenango County, the Town of Nichols in Tioga County, the Town of Diana in Lewis County and the Town of Pitcairn in St. Lawrence County — were completed in December.
Some 3,000 households were connected through a $10 million high-speed internet project led by the New York Power Authority.
“Enabling internet access in rural areas where commercial providers could not make an economic case to do so was a challenge that was right up our alley as we pride ourselves on providing solutions that impact New Yorkers,” NYPA President and CEO Justin Driscoll said.
Access: NY got $670M to increase rural internet access. Which parts of the state need it most?
How many NY households don’t have access?
Hochul established the $1 billion ConnectALL Initiative, the state’s largest-ever investment in broadband access.
It’s been used to launch several projects, including one that will deliver broadband to homes in affordable and public housing by leveraging a $100 million federal investment.
“New York’s ConnectALL initiative is delivering high-speed internet to thousands of families statewide, and this transformative federal investment will help us keep even more New Yorkers connected,” Hochul said. “Access to affordable, reliable broadband keeps New Yorkers working, empowers our students, and connects families to critical benefits and services.”
ConnectALL was preceded by the state’s $500 million Broadband for All program, launched in 2015.
A 2023 report by the state Comptroller’s Office revealed that 90% of New York households and a broadband internet subscription.
But parts of the Southern Tier and the Catskills remain behind. The Federal Communications Commission’s National Broadband Map displays broadband internet coverage in New York and across the country.
Tyler Fields is your internet guru, delving into the latest trends, developments, and issues shaping the online world. With a focus on internet culture, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies, Tyler keeps readers informed about the dynamic landscape of the internet and its impact on our digital lives.
