Governor Hochul Announces New York State ConnectALL Office Achieves Critical Milestone with $7 Million in Federal Grants

Funding Kicks Off Statewide Comprehensive Broadband and Digital Equity Planning and Stakeholder Engagement to Support Closing the Digital Divide

Awards are First Step Towards New York Receiving Full Allocation of Broadband Funding from Federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that New York State's ConnectALL office has been awarded $7.2 million through the U.S. Department of Commerce's Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment and Digital Equity Act programs. Over the coming months, ConnectALL will use these funds to engage New Yorkers across the state to produce comprehensive statewide broadband deployment and digital equity plans. These plans will provide the roadmap for the state's utilization of Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funds to close New York State's remaining digital divide.

"Access to affordable, reliable internet is no longer a luxury - it's a necessity for connecting individuals to employment, education, and essential government services," Governor Hochul said. "This funding from the Biden-Harris administration will help to keep New Yorkers connected and build our digital infrastructure for the 21st century economy. I want to thank our federal partners for making this investment in our state, and I look forward to continuing that partnership to expand digital equity and ensure that high-speed broadband is available to all."

Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said, "Internet for All initiatives will increase the affordability of Internet services with the goal of providing New Yorkers with equitable Internet access. I thank Governor Hochul for her work in expanding Internet access to address the needs of unserved and underserved communities."

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, "We are pleased to receive these vital awards from the federal government to advance Governor Hochul's ConnectALL agenda. We look forward to working with our partners in every region of the state to advance a statewide plan and unlock the federal funding to support critical broadband programs."

The $1.1 billion ConnectALL initiative, announced by Governor Hochul in her January 2022 State of the State Address, is New York State's largest-ever investment in broadband, aimed at transforming the state's digital infrastructure to connect all New Yorkers through the internet. Through investments in data collection and mapping, targeted grant programs, updates to deployment policy, and statewide stakeholder engagement, ConnectALL will help New Yorkers gain access to improved broadband service and the greater economic, education, health, and civic engagement opportunities it provides.

Read the full press release here.