Montgomery County Receives $250,000 Broadband Study Grant | News

The local award was among technical assistance grants funding eight projects in the state totaling $1.5 million combined through the Regional and Local Assistance Program announced by Empire State Development on Monday.

It’s part of the state’s ConnectALL initiative to expand broadband access, affordability and equity in New York.

“There are still many residents in the county who are either unserved or underserved by broadband,” said Alex Kuttesch, senior planner for the Montgomery County Business Development Center. “As a kind of public service, it is important for us to strive for broadband access for all. This is important for our residents and economic development in the county.”

State funding for such planning and research efforts at the local and regional levels will lay the groundwork for strategic investment in broadband infrastructure to benefit communities and bridge the digital divide, according to Empire State Development President, Chief Executive Officer and Commissioner Hope Knight.

“These grants will enable our public partners across the state to address the unique broadband needs of their regions so that all New Yorkers can have the connection they need to thrive in the digital age,” Knight said in a prepared statement.

Montgomery County was awarded the maximum available funding, which will be used to study the feasibility of expanding broadband infrastructure in underserved areas and determine the best options for obtaining additional funding for future projects.

“To reach hard-to-reach addresses, you must have all the possibilities. We are going to investigate everything,” Kuttesh said.

Officials have previously mapped areas that are not covered or not covered by broadband Internet access. There are pockets of gaps in service provision in the district, but problems most often arise in rural areas.

According to New York State, approximately 8.6% of the county is unserved, with approximately 1,773 households without an Internet connection. Broadband map.

While officials know where broadband is needed, Kuttesh said there has not previously been an economic feasibility study to determine how to expand infrastructure in those areas and the final rate residents would be charged to access the service to assess availability.

“We have to take additional steps to find out what it takes to get broadband to these people,” Kuttesh said.

The county will hire a consultant to lead the planning process, working with the county and involving town and village officials. A firm is likely to be selected early this year, and the study is expected to run through 2025.

Once completed, Kuttesh said the study will be used as a decision-making tool and road map for finding funding for identified projects.

State funding allows the county to take the lead in taking the first step in expanding local broadband that would likely be difficult for smaller communities in the region to finance and implement on their own.

Expanding broadband across the county and the wider state has become a priority as the internet becomes more and more part of everyday life, commonly used to access basic services and amenities.

“Because people have the ability to work remotely, it makes us more competitive when people are considering moving here,” Kuttesh said. “If you want to start a home business, you need excellent broadband access. Even just applying for a job online or getting telemedicine services, it’s just easier to access the things you need to have the quality of life you’re looking for.”

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