O’Mara, Palmesano: Increased broadband investment critical to Upstate, rural New York communities

Albany, N.Y., March 1—State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C,I-Big Flats) and Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning), who have long advocated state investment in rural broadband development, welcomed today’s announcement that the third and final round of funding through the New NY Broadband Program established in 2015 is bringing a total of over $33 million to the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions.

In Albany today, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced $30.8 million in grants for the Southern Tier region and $2.6 million for the Finger Lakes region.  Across the Southern Tier, the awards will drive more than $46.4 million of public-private broadband investment and provide 17,796 homes and other locations in the region with access to high-speed Internet. In the Finger Lakes region, including Yates County, the awards will spark more than $4.7 million of public-private broadband investment and provide 10,169 homes and other locations with broadband access.

In a joint statement, O’Mara and Palmesano said, “Access to high-speed Internet has become a fundamental need for our citizens, our communities, our businesses, and the success and strength of our local economies.  We have worked to ensure that Upstate New York is not left behind under this initiative.  There are some incredible local efforts underway, including the Southern Tier Network, making great stridesto expand and improve our regional access. This ongoing state investment has helped to accelerate these badly needed expansions and truly ensure that broadband development across rural, Upstate New York receives an equal and fair commitment.”

 The overall goal of the initiative is to bring high-speed Internet access to every New Yorker by the end of 2018.  Throughout its implementation over the past three years, O’Mara and Palmesano have stressed that investment in high-speed Internet expansion statewide must give equal attention to unserved and underserved areas across the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions, and all of Upstate New York.

According to today’s announcement, towns in Chemung County will receive the following grants: Baldwin, $671,541; Van Etten, $224,219; Southport, $50,874; Horseheads (Village), $36,228; and Erin, $23,520.

Towns in Schuyler County will receive the following grants: Tyrone, $773,579; Reading, $98,210; Orange, $90,598; Dix, $31,344; and Cayuta, $16,380.

Towns in Steuben County will receive the following grants: Howard, $536,642; Canisteo, $529,413; Bath, $521,288; Thurston, $502,643; Bradford, $433,613; and Cameron, $347,380.

Towns in Tompkins County will receive the following grants: Dryden, $440,656; Newfield, $380,885; Groton, $312,825; Danby, $205,917; and Caroline, $180,234.

Towns in Yates County will receive the following grants: Milo, $48,827; Potter, $46,939; Barrington, $27,022; Middlesex, $25,046; Benton, $20,476; and Italy, $17,957.

Today's announcements can be found HERE, and HERE.