New York is investing $52.6 million in public-private partnerships to expand reliable high-speed internet connectivity across the state.
The grant funding will be sourced from the Municipal Infrastructure Program (MIP), Affordable Housing Connectivity Program (AHCP) and Deployment Program County Partnerships, totaling $52.6 million. These awards will directly connect 6,900 locations across the state, including 24,000 total households, businesses, and anchor institutions, with 19,000 of those being affordable housing units, and build 234 miles of new fiber infrastructure and 46 new wireless hubs.
The awards will support long-term economic development across 28 counties, and the internet service will improve affordability so all residents can participate in the digital economy, the governor’s office said in an announcement.
The broadband internet service in some cases will be as low as $10 per month and in all cases will include high-speed options below the regional average prices. The projects build on a foundation of prior investment by ConnectALL, which has previously awarded more than $13 million in AHCP grants connecting more than 12,000 affordable housing units, and $242.5 million in MIP grants bringing high-speed internet to an additional 105,000 households across the state.
The AHCP provides high-speed internet access to affordable and public housing properties, ensuring digital equity for low-income residents. More than $18 million in awards have been announced to Flume Internet and Community Broadband Networks to expand access across nine metropolitan areas.
The County Partnership Infrastructure Awards support local broadband deployment through strategic partnerships with counties and private providers. Albany County will receive just over $1 million to partner with a fiber and telecommunications company to deliver high-speed internet to more than 100 locations.
The MIP builds critical broadband infrastructure through public-private partnerships, focusing on expanding access in underserved rural areas. Awards include:
- $15.6 million for Wyoming County and Community Broadband Network to partner on two projects. The first will construct a 36-mile fiber optic backbone connecting approximately 100 locations supporting fiber-to-home service, with capacity to support further last-mile expansions from multiple internet service providers. The second will deploy 20 fixed wireless points of presence reaching more than 1,900 locations. POPs will be installed on utility poles, custom masts, and municipal assets like water towers to expand reach.
- $9.9 million for Madison County to partner with Empire Access to build 120 miles of fiber connecting more than 2,600 homes, businesses, and community anchor institutions. By leveraging existing USDA ReConnect contracts with 20% designated as open-access fiber for other providers, the County will extend service to rural and agricultural communities with limited high-speed service options.
- $5 million for Erie County to extend its open-access middle-mile network 42 miles to serve 82 additional community anchor institutions that include police, fire, emergency management services and community centers owned by the municipalities of City of Buffalo, City of Lackawanna, and Erie County Public Safety.
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