State’s ConnectALL initiative providing high-speed broadband service to four rural communities

SHERBURNE, N.Y. — Four rural upstate New York communities are part of the state’s ConnectALL pilot initiative, bringing broadband internet access to more New Yorkers living in rural areas.

The village of Sherburne in Chenango County; the town of Nichols in Tioga County; the town of Diana in Lewis County; and the town of Pitcairn in St. Lawrence County are the initial municipalities participating in this first deployment through the governor’s $1 billion ConnectALL initiative.

Described as the “largest ever” investment in New York’s 21st century digital infrastructure, ConnectALL “aims to transform” New York’s digital infrastructure and expand broadband access, affordability and equity statewide using more than $1 billion in public and private investments, the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a recent announcement.

Representatives from the New York Power Authority (NYPA) and Empire State Development (ESD), along with Sherburne Mayor William Acee and other collaborators on May 27 formally launched the model project in the village of Sherburne.

“The past two years have reminded New Yorkers of how crucial reliable and affordable broadband is, so we can stay connected to family, work, school and healthcare services, as many were forced to work and attend school remotely, and deep crevices in New York’s digital landscape were exposed,” Hochul said. “Broadband internet access is every bit as important to daily life as heat, water and electricity, and ConnectALL aims to create a new digital landscape for New York by building secure and affordable broadband connections in every corner of the state. Investment in this vital public infrastructure will not only strengthen the progress of our State’s initial investment, it will boost economic growth and local innovation far into the future.”

New York’s new ConnectALL program is investing $10 million to target areas where existing state-owned fiber can create a fiber bridge between large data centers (first mile) and individual homes (last mile), primarily in rural areas that are not serviced by private broadband providers.

Working with nonprofit partners and New York State government, including ESD, the Development Authority of the North Country and the Southern Tier Network, NYPA will manage the initial broadband deployment in these four select counties by leveraging existing state-owned networks to connect fiber over the “middle mile” to more than 2,000 homes and businesses, Hochul’s office said.