SCHUMER, ARCURI, USDA SECRETARY ANNOUNCE: OVER $600,000 COMING TO FINGER LAKES COUNTIES FOR HIGH SPEED BROADBAND DEVELOPMENT
Cayuga, Seneca and Wayne Counties Slated to Receive Over $600,000 for High Speed Internet
Schumer and Arcuri Pushed to Add More Funding in Stimulus Bill for Broadband Deployment
Schumer and Arcuri: New Investments Will Create Jobs, Lay Groundwork for Future Economic Growth
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer, Congressman Michael Arcuri (NY24) and Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, announced that $639,218 in funding will be coming to the Cayuga, Seneca and Wayne counties in order to deploy highspeed broadband internet. The investments, which come through a provision in the stimulus bill that Schumer and Arcuri fought to increase funding for, will deploy high speed broadband in rural areas throughout New York State.
"To create the vibrant Upstate New York economy of tomorrow that creates and sustains the jobs of the future, we must build rural broadband and high speed internet networks today. The difference between economic success and failure in a digital world will be in large part determined by access to high speed broadband," Schumer said. "These investments will create jobs and build a strong base for future economic growth in the Finger Lakes region and the whole state."
"Broadband access is critical to growing the Upstate New York economy," Arcuri said. "There are areas in our region that currently do not have access to cable television, much less highspeed internet. This access is no longer a luxury-our ability to compete in the global economy depends on widespread, affordable access. Building this infrastructure will create new jobs, extend lifesaving telemedicine services to rural communities, and ensure our nation's children are equipped with the skills they need to compete in the global economy-and all thanks to the Recovery Bill."
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), more commonly known as the stimulus bill, contains $7.2 billion in funding for broadband deployment across the country helping communities create jobs in the short term and lay the groundwork for future economic growth. The funding announced today is a part of the Broadband Initiatives Program which is administered by the United States Department of Agriculture's Office of Rural Development.
Broadband in Cayuga, Seneca and Wayne Counties will be deployed by Port Byron Telephone Company, a subsidiary of TDS Telecom. The project will bring highspeed DSL broadband service to unserved rural areas ensuring that rural communities in Cayuga, Seneca and Wayne counties have access to the same highspeed broadband that New Yorkers living in more populated areas have. The project will leverage over $200,000 in private investment to create jobs by financing the design and install of the broadband lines.
Having access to high speed broadband improves nearly every facet of a community. Businesses with access to high speed broadband can compete with businesses throughout the world their products are made more quickly, customers receive their goods faster and vital information can be communicated around the world in seconds. Access to broadband also improves local healthcare as doctors and surgeons can better coordinate care of patients. Moreover, high speed broadband brings local schools and college to the forefront of education. Classrooms become truly global as students and professors access and perform cutting edge research to improve their local community and make innovations. Below is a map of where the broadband will be deployed in the Finger Lakes Area:
