New York Spends $27 Million Spreading Broadband

New York will spend $27 million bringing broadband Internet to underserved rural and urban areas of the state as part of what governor's office called “the single largest direct investment of state funding into expanding broadband access in the United States.”

The city is now accepting applications for the $25 million “Connect NY” program, which is supplemented by a $2 million Regional Council initiative, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo (D-NY) announced Aug. 27. "This investment in high-speed Internet access will ensure that the information superhighway will be open to all New York businesses," Cuomo said in a statement. "By expanding the availability of high-quality broadband services, Connect NY makes our state a national leader in the digital economy and gives our businesses the tools they need to compete and prosper in the global economy." More than 700,000 New Yorkers are unable to access high-speed internet, according to the governor's office, and another 6 million citizens face “significant obstacles” in connecting. The grant funds will be made available to applicants based on criteria determined by the Regional Economic Development Councils and Empire State Development, entities through which the funds were initially made available.