Project Will Deliver High-Speed Internet to More Than 10,700 Homes and Businesses in Central New York

Municipal Infrastructure Program Has Now Awarded Over $240 Million Statewide for Broadband Expansion

Governor Kathy Hochul on Feb 12th, announced a $26 million ConnectALL grant to Oswego County to construct a fiber-to-the-home network that will expand broadband access to about 10,792 homes, businesses and community institutions across 22 towns and villages. The project will construct 345 miles of fiber infrastructure, significantly expanding high-speed internet access throughout rural areas of the county. This grant is part of New York State's Municipal Infrastructure Program, which has now awarded over $240 million in funding for broadband expansion projects. Collectively, these investments support the construction of nearly 2,400 miles of broadband infrastructure, reaching about 98,000 locations across New York State.

“This $26 million investment in Oswego County's broadband infrastructure represents our commitment to building a more connected New York, where every family and business can access affordable, high-speed internet,” Governor Hochul said. “By partnering with local governments to expand broadband coverage, we're creating opportunities for economic growth, improving access to health care and education, and ensuring our rural communities are fully equipped to participate in our digital future.”

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “Expanding reliable broadband connectivity is crucial for New York State's economic growth. Through ConnectALL's transformative work in Oswego County, we will help bridge the digital divide and connect thousands of Central New York residents and businesses to the modern digital economy. Through the ConnectALL initiative, we are building the infrastructure needed to provide all New Yorkers with reliable, affordable internet access.”

Oswego County will own the broadband network and make it available for lease to internet service providers, including Empire Access, on a non-discriminatory and non-exclusive basis. The revenue generated from these leases will support the network's ongoing maintenance and future expansion. This innovative public infrastructure model ensures sustainable, affordable access while promoting competition among service providers.

The project specifically targets rural areas with high poverty rates and geographic isolation, addressing critical needs for affordable and reliable broadband service. The expanded connectivity will enhance residents' access to essential services including:

- Telehealth resources

- Remote education opportunities

- Digital employment platforms

- Online business services

Funding for ConnectALL’s Municipal Infrastructure Program has been awarded through the U.S. Department of the Treasury under the American Rescue Plan’s Capital Projects Fund. Broadband infrastructure in the Municipal Infrastructure Program will be owned by a public entity or publicly controlled. Internet Service Providers will use the new broadband infrastructure to provide New Yorkers with affordable, high quality service options.

Oswego County Legislature Chairman James Weatherup said, “For more than a decade, we have been working to identify a funding source that would enable us to reach the areas in our county that, for various reasons, had been ignored by the major corporate Internet Service Providers. The Municipal Infrastructure Program offered by New York’s ConnectAll broadband office fit our needs nicely, allowing us to reach nearly 100 percent of the addresses that had been identified as unserved, as well as many that lacked service sufficient to carry out the needs of an average household. The project, when complete, will support the existing business community, enhance future economic development opportunities, provide a more robust learning environment for children and elevate the quality of life throughout the County. We are very grateful for this affordable opportunity to enhance our communities with these critical infrastructure assets.”

Governor Hochul’s ConnectALL Initiative

Governor Hochul has made expanding broadband access a cornerstone of her administration's efforts to create a more equitable New York. Through the ConnectALL initiative, New York State is investing $1 billion to transform the State's digital infrastructure, enhance competition among providers and ensure that every New Yorker has access to reliable, affordable high-speed internet.

To date, ConnectALL has overseen the successful launch and implementation of several programs to advance broadband access, including:

-- The Digital Equity Program, which will invest $50 million, including a federal allocation of at least $37 million, to implement the New York State Digital Equity Plan to close the digital divide. ConnectALL is accepting responses to the Digital Equity Program Capacity Grant Request for Applications through March 24, 2025. ConnectALL will award about $15.5 Million through this Request for Applications to entities and partnerships working to bridge the digital divide.

-- The Affordable Housing Connectivity Program, which will bring new broadband infrastructure to homes in affordable and public housing, leveraging a $100 million federal investment from the U.S. Treasury Department’s Capital Projects Fund. The program is currently accepting applications from internet service providers and expressions of interest from housing owners and public housing authorities.

-- The ConnectALL Deployment Program, which will fund internet service providers to reach unserved and underserved locations, drawing on an allocation of $664.6 million in federal funding from the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program, as described in the ConnectALL Broadband Deployment Initial Proposal.