Southern Tier gets $18.2 million for high-speed internet
SOUTHERN TIER, N.Y. (WETM) — Thousands of households in the Southern Tier will get access to high-speed broadband internet thanks to a multi-million dollar federal grant.
Governor Kathy Hochul’s Office announced that areas across the state are getting a total of more than $70 million in tax funds from the federal government through ConnectALL’s Municipal Infrastructure Grant Program. New York State’s ConnectALL initiative aims to build up the state’s digital infrastructure and give all New Yorkers access to the internet.
“Access to affordable, high-quality internet is no longer a luxury – it is a necessity for everyday life,” said Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. “New Yorkers rely daily on broadband to connect them with work opportunities, health care, education and much more. This funding will go directly toward bridging the digital divide and deliver high-speed internet to families across New York State.”
More than $450,000 grant awarded to the Elmira Corning Regional Airport for quality improvements
Southern Tier Network is getting $18.2 million from ConnectALL’s latest round of grants. This nonprofit organization will use the funds to build 223 miles of open-access fiber optic infrastructure in eight towns across Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, Tioga, and Tompkins Counties. More than 4,200 homes and businesses will be connected through this project and receive high-speed symmetric internet service options for the first time.
Southern Tier Network will follow the model ConnectALL’s municipal infrastructure pilot project used in the Town of Nichols when it installs fiber across the region. The organization will partner with FiberSpark and other local internet service providers on the network to give residents and businesses service rates lower than the areas’ typical service rates. Southern Tier Network isn’t a competitor for local providers; the fiber it installs can be used by multiple providers, and the consumers can choose their provider.
Elmira Fire Department to receive federal funding for new gear, training
The areas in the Southern Tier that will receive new digital infrastructure from this project have extreme rural poverty, vulnerable aging populations, and disproportionately high levels of households that have at least one person with a disability. Having access to high-speed internet is expected to increase education, economic, and health outcomes for people who live in these areas and help retain the population.
ConnectALL’s Municipal Infrastructure Program gets its funding from the U.S. Department of the Treasury under the American Rescue Plan’s Capital Projects Fund. The Capital Projects Fund was created after the pandemic revealed the challenges communities without access to broadband face. This fund gives states and other entities money to fund projects that enable work, education, and health monitoring in the event of a public health emergency.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WETM - MyTwinTiers.com.
