Making Broadband More Affordable: Governor Hochul Announces More Than $13.1 Million in New Broadband Awards to Secure Long-Term, Low-Cost Access for Thousands of New Yorkers in Public and Affordable Housing

Governor Kathy Hochul (D-NY) announced the first grant awards under the Affordable Housing Connectivity Program that will deliver high-speed internet to thousands of lower income households. The inaugural awards from the Affordable Housing Connectivity Program will provide broadband service at $10 per month and Gigabit-speed service at $30 per month to an anticipated 14,167 lower income households across Buffalo, Rochester, upper Manhattan and the Bronx through 2034. The $13.1 million in total grant funding will connect 780 buildings, all of which include affordable housing and some of which are public housing properties. The totals for the three grants are:

• New York City Region: $4,573,875 to connect 88 properties across the Bronx and New York counties, encompassing 126 buildings and 4,854 units and approximately 13 miles of fiber
• Finger Lakes Region: $3,930,473 to serve 51 properties in the Rochester metro area (Monroe and Ontario counties), covering 305 buildings and 4,280 units and approximately 12 miles of fiber
• Western New York Region: $4,678,197 to connect 39 properties in the Buffalo metro area (Erie County), serving 349 buildings and 5,033 units and approximately 14 miles of fiber

The primary funding for the Program comes from the U.S. Treasury Department Capital Projects Fund, established under the American Rescue Plan Act.