VIENNA, N.Y. — Nearly 1,000 homes and 2,600 residents will now receive high-speed internet services as part of Oneida County’s $2 million in broadband-expansion projects, County Executive Anthony J. Picente, Jr. announced. “We are committed to bridging the gaps the became evident during the pandemic,” Picente said in a news release. “Lack of high-speed internet […]
VIENNA, N.Y. — Nearly 1,000 homes and 2,600 residents will now receive high-speed internet services as part of Oneida County’s $2 million in broadband-expansion projects, County Executive Anthony J. Picente, Jr. announced.
“We are committed to bridging the gaps the became evident during the pandemic,” Picente said in a news release. “Lack of high-speed internet creates an inequity that puts students at a disadvantage, leaves businesses unable to modernize, and limits growth in communities. Broadband is something that everyone should have access to, and this is a step toward making that a reality for everyone in Oneida County.”
The expansion projects cover 10 areas including six towns — Forestport, Ava, Boonville, Remsen, Augusta, and Vienna — working with two internet-service providers selected through a request for proposals (RFP) process. Adirondack Techs will handle nine project areas and Charter will handle the remaining area.
The $1,950,967 capital program includes $150,000 in internet-service provider (ISP) investment and nine of the projects include a 2 percent revenue share to offset a percentage of the cost to the county.
An extensive mapping analysis between Oneida and Herkimer counties, the Tug Hill Commission, and Mohawk Valley Economic Development District allowed the Oneida County Department of Planning to identify 2,079 Oneida County homes in about 32 areas with clusters of 20 or more homes. This first step of the initiative will reach 46 percent of the unserved homes identified.
Oneida County offered municipalities the opportunity to partner financially and leverage the funding to expand coverage even further into their communities. The Town of Vienna was the only municipality to take the county up on the offer, which led to the town securing $226,761 to service 111 homes.
“Since becoming town supervisor, the expansion of internet service is something I hear about most often from residents and was an issue I have looked to tackle since day one,” Town of Vienna Supervisor Michael M. Davis, Sr. said.
Oneida County is utilizing American Rescue Act funding to expand internet service to underserved areas of the county. The federal funding must be allocated by 2024 and spent by 2026 on projects, initiatives, or programs that address issues exacerbated by the pandemic.
