Mar 19: New York Governor David A. Paterson announced that nine public/private sector partnerships will be the first recipients of grants from the New York State Council for Universal Broadband. The funds are targeted to help promote the research, design and implementation of innovative solutions to create affordable broadband Internet access for underserved urban and rural communities throughout the state.
Amongst the recipients were an initiative to bring broadband over power lines (BPL) to Onondaga County and a program to bring a year’s free access to residents of the Mount Hope community housing project in the Bronx.
In 2007, the New York State Legislature appropriated $5 million to provide seed money to be awarded through the Council. To leverage the funds, the Council required a minimum dollar-for-dollar match in the form of cash, in-kind goods and services, or a combination of the two. The value of the matching cash and in-kind services from the nine award recipients totals more than $15.1 million.
More than 50 applications were received for the first year of funding and the proposed 2008-09 budget includes $15 million to continue the program.
Press Release: http://www.ny.gov/governor/press/press_0319082.html
Grant Recipients: http://www.ny.gov/governor/press/pdf/press_0319082.pdf
What about Upstate NY AKA Central NY like Jefferson County for example! I live in Town of Brownville with an address for Chaumont, NY and had nothing but dial-up for two years now. I cannot afford the Satellite and even then the speeds are about that of dial up!! There was talk of a Wireless ISP which got shot down and the local phone company TDS telecom only ran the DSL to its Summer Customers who would only use it for 3-4 months compared to their year round customers. All I see since I came to NY State since my military days is everything for DOWNSTATE and nothing for upstate NY. Well when do we get our fair share and get support from Albany on things like this!!!!!!!!!!!
It's a fair question. I think you have to look at those initiatives above that received grants abd see if something similar can be made to happen in your area. I would certainly think it would be worth organizing a mass petition of New York State Council for Universal Broadband with your particular problems.