Madison County, New York, has been awarded $9,998,562 in grant funds to enhance broadband access for underserved residents in its southern region. This funding announcement was made by New York State Governor Kathy Hochul on Thursday, marking a significant step in the county’s efforts to provide reliable internet access.
The grant comes from the New York State ConnectALL Municipal Infrastructure Program and will benefit the communities of Cazenovia, Morrisville, New Woodstock, Hamilton, and Brookfield. This initiative will expand upon the existing Madison County Connect project, which was initiated following a $12.8 million USDA ReConnect grant awarded in 2021.
Building a Comprehensive Broadband Network
Madison County is collaborating with Empire Access to construct a fiber network spanning 120 miles. This infrastructure will connect over 2,600 homes, businesses, and community institutions, ensuring access to high-quality, affordable internet services. The network, which will be owned by the county, is operated by Empire Access.
Construction of the Madison County Connect project is currently underway, with Syracuse Utilities handling the implementation. The first phase of the project, funded by the USDA, is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2025. This phase will provide options for residents in areas such as Cazenovia, Chittenango, Oneida, and parts of Munnsville.
“Madison County set out over six years ago to ensure that everyone in our community truly had access to reliable high-speed internet,” stated Mark Scimone, Madison County Administrator. He emphasized the vital role of internet access in today’s society, noting that it is essential for education, healthcare, and leisure activities. “Everyone deserves the opportunity to be able to access high-speed, reliable internet,” he added, expressing gratitude to Governor Hochul for the ConnectALL funding.
Project Funding and Future Phases
The total cost for the comprehensive broadband project is estimated at $18.6 million, with Madison County contributing $3.4 million and an investment of $2.4 million from Empire Access. The county has worked closely with the USDA, New York Engineering Services, ECC Technologies, and Empire Access to bring this project to fruition.
The Madison County Rural Broadband Network aims to provide internet service at speeds of 100 Mbps for both downloads and uploads to unserved households and businesses. The ReConnect initiative encompasses 269 miles of fiber, which will ultimately serve 6,504 homes. The ConnectALL portion adds an additional 120 miles for more residents.
Construction of the network will unfold in three phases. The first phase includes areas such as Sullivan, Chittenango, Lenox, Canastota, Lincoln, Oneida, Stockbridge, Fenner, Cazenovia, and Smithfield. The second phase is set to begin this winter, moving forward concurrently with the ConnectALL project.
The initial construction will focus on the northern half of the county, enabling connections to the existing Empire Access network. For further details regarding the project phases, Madison County residents can visit the official website at madisoncounty.ny.gov.
