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Governor Hochul Announces 100,000 Families Have Joined Federal Broadband Affordability Program

Multi-Agency Effort to Enroll Eligible Low-Income Families a Major Success 

Newly Participating New York Families Will Receive Nearly $36 Million in Federal Subsidies

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced more than 100,000 additional qualifying families have enrolled in the federal government’s Affordable Connectivity Program since New York launched a multi-agency broadband outreach initiative to spur enrollment. The federal program provides discounts of up to $30 a month toward internet service for eligible low-income families.

“The past two years have reminded us how crucial reliable and affordable broadband is, so we can stay connected to family, work, school and healthcare services,” Governor Hochul said. “I am proud of the collaboration of our state agencies and our partnership with the federal government to bring broadband across the state, and am committed to continuing these efforts to connect all New Yorkers.” 

As a direct result of a multi-agency, multi-pronged outreach effort led by the New York State Department of Public Service (DPS), the state continues to increase the number of eligible enrollees daily. With over 715,000 households receiving the monthly subsidy as of March 14, 2022, New York leads among the four largest states with nearly 40 percent enrollment. The campaign, which launched in early January, started with less than 30 percent of eligible households enrolled. The eligible families that have just joined will receive approximately $36 million, bringing the total annual subsidies to more than $250 million.

Read the full press release.