MID-HUDSON – Eleven internet providers serving New York State have been awarded nearly $400 million to achieve universal broadband connectivity by reaching every documented unserved and underserved location across the state including sections of Putnam, Dutchess, Orange, Ulster, Sullivan, Westchester and Colombia counties.
Governor Kathy Hochul announced the initiative Friday in conjunction with the ConnectALL Deployment Program.
“In this day and age, internet access is no longer just a luxury — it is a necessity to connect individuals to everyday essentials from education to healthcare. Every community in New York State deserves to have access to the internet and it is time we uplift our underserved communities, providing them with more opportunities and resources,” the governor said.
The proposed projects span every region of the state, from Long Island to Western New York, targeting the final one percent of locations that remain without broadband service or an enforceable commitment for service under another grant program. The awarded projects will deliver fiber optic infrastructure to approximately 31 percent of the eligible locations and fixed wireless service to some 44 percent.
Putnam residents will benefit from $11.4 million awarded to Comcast Cable Communications Management to serve 390 locations in Putnam County with fiber optic technology.
Putnam has also been included in a $20.4 million grant to Space Exploration Technologies Corp. that will serve 13,615 locations in 37 counties including Orange, Rockland, Sullivan and Westchester.
Archtop Fiber’s $78.6 million grant will assist residents in Columbia, Dutchess, Orange, and Sullivan counties with fiber optic technology while Planet Fiber will assist 16 locations in Orange County, and Verizon, 13 counties including Sullivan and Ulster.