New York state has awarded $43.6 million in New NY Broadband Program Round III grants in the region, including numerous awards in Warren and Washington counties.
The awards will drive more than $71 million of public-private broadband investment and provide 19,774 homes and other locations in the region with access to high-speed internet, state officials said.
EDC Warren County President Ed Bartholomew—who considers broadband a key economic development initiative—lauded the efforts of Gov. Andrew Cuomo and other representatives in promoting and supporting the region’s goal in achieving access to internet download speeds of at least 100 megabits per second and 25 megabits per second in the most rural and remote areas.
“This award will significantly improve the internet speed and accessibility for businesses, residents, children’s school homework and tourism who desire to extend their vacation time and presently are unable to do so as a result of lack of connectivity,” Bartholomew said.
Bartholomew said the total investment in the area is a combination of state grant awards, private sector match and federal commitment.
He said the broadband companies providing service within Warren County for the expansion is principally SLIC (formerly St. Lawrence Internet Connection) and to lesser extent Hughes Network Systems Inc.
Bartholomew said SLIC will become a significant broadband player for northern Warren County residents’ broadband service. Additionally, he noted that Microsoft is seeking operational partners for participation in developing white space coverage for certain rural areas in upstate New York including Warren County.
He said EDC will continue to work with the governor, state and federal officials on the economic development initiative.
U.S. Rep Elise Stefanik said broadband internet “is critical to succeeding in a 21st century economy and I applaud this announcement to ensure families across our district have access to this needed resource. Increasing access to broadband will increase commerce in our region and expand educational opportunities for our children. We must continue to work together at the local, state, and federal level to ensure Capital Region families have the resources they need.”
The grants were awarded as part of the third and final round of the program, fulfilling the governor’s promise to connect all New Yorkers to high-speed internet for the first time in state history.
“Access to high-speed internet has never been more important for New York residents and businesses,” Gov. Cuomo said. “By leveraging state investments with private and federal funding, we are building a stronger, smarter and more competitive New York poised to lead the nation as the first state to achieve total connectivity.”
In total, 16 awarded projects will address unserved territories in the Capital Region, according to the governor’s office. Nearly 1,400 miles of broadband infrastructure will be deployed, providing residents and companies across the region with access to new economic opportunities. When the New NY Broadband Program was launched in 2015, 73 percent of Capital Region residents—over 371,000 homes—lacked access to broadband.
This state investment will drive a Round III total of $385.5 million in broadband infrastructure and support connections for nearly 129,000 locations.
The municipality’s state grant (with total investment) and locations addressed for Warren County include:
Johnsburg, $3,245,431, ($4,063,293), 944.
Thurman, $2,025,459, ($2,593,396), 755.
Stony Creek, $742,530, ($934,027), 273.
Warrensburg, $220,587, ($285,420), 106.
Chester, $13,860, ($19,864), 87.
Lake Luzerne, $7,718, ($22,779), 40.
Bolton, $11,183, ($21,239), 67.
Chester, $13,860, ($19,864), 87.
Horicon, $10,080, ($15,313), 57.
Queensbury, $3,150, ($4,573), 17.
Lake George, $1,575, ($2,250), 10.
Hague, $1,418, ($2,025), 9.
The municipality’s state grant (with total investment) and locations addressed for Washington County include:
White Creek, $4,157,207, ($6,098,124), 609.
Hebron, $3,485,295, ($6,296,700), 1,074.
Cambridge, $2,948,047, ($5,043,638), 540.
Putnam, $1,177,977, ($2,396,929), 379.
Jackson, $1,166,745, ($2,033,025), 283.
Easton, $1,152,084, ($2,551,207), 448.
Salem, $1,111,167, ($2,367,439), 482.
Hartford, $1,095,927, ($2,105,305), 410.
Dresden, $847,463, ($1,620,282), 704.
Argyle, $689,386, ($1,307,554), 352.
Hampton, $653,604, ($1,181,897), 385.
Granville, $588,270, ($988,461), 581.
Fort Edward, $451,739, ($899,665), 182.
Officials said after full implementation of the commitments announced, 99.9 percent of New Yorkers will have access to high-speed broadband—with almost 99 percent at speeds of 100 megabits per second or greater. Consistent with the program’s prioritization of unserved areas, of the broadband funds deployed, nearly 90 percent of all funding was awarded to projects that will address unserved areas of the state, connecting these locations for the first time.