Round III of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s ‘nation-leading’ broadband program will mean $209.7 million of investment — ensuring 122,285 homes, businesses, and community institutions across the state will have access to high-speed internet.
The entire project will drive $341.8 million of public/private broadband investment.
This represents the third and final round of the program and the completion of the Governor’s promise to connect all New Yorkers to high-speed Internet for the first time in state history.
Since the program’s launch in 2015, Governor Cuomo has secured high-speed Internet upgrades for approximately 2.42 million locations statewide. These latest awards through Round III of the New NY Broadband Program will close the final gap and bring high-speed broadband to all New Yorkers in every corner of the state.
Round III includes awards to support an advanced satellite technology offering Internet download speeds of at least 25 Megabits per second (Mbps) to homes and other locations in the most rural parts of Upstate New York.
“Access to high-speed internet is critical as New York works to deliver the resources needed for industries to thrive and businesses to remain competitive in the 21st century global economy,” Governor Cuomo said. “This cutting-edge program is advancing our vision to connect communities, empower entrepreneurs and residents, and support advanced technological innovation. Projects achieved through the New NY Broadband Program are a major step forward in creating the most robust broadband infrastructure network in the nation, while ensuring that reliable, high-speed internet is available to all New Yorkers.”
Gov. Cuomo has outlined a number of these projects, which have already been selected for the funding — that will have an impact here in the Finger Lakes.
Many of these projects involve receiving federal and private commitments, as well as those outlined state funds.
Armstrong Telecommunications, Inc., Frontier Communications, and Hughes Network Systems, LLC., will all have millions invested in the region. That said, the breakdown from the governor’s office does not clarify where specifically — or who specifically will be impacted inside the Finger Lakes for these types of projects.
The underserved territories will represent approximately 7,544 miles of broadband infrastructure.