State Senator Tom O’Mara (R-C, Big Flats) has joined Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt and other Senate Republican Conference members in urging Governor Kathy Hochul to prioritize unserved and underserved New York communities when distributing recently announced federal high-speed internet grants.
In a letter to the Governor, the senators highlighted the necessity of high-speed internet access for work, education, and other essentials in today’s world.
They urged a permanent solution and the fair distribution of the impending federal aid to ensure that every New Yorker has access to this fundamental service.
The federal government recently announced a $42.5 billion multi-state allocation to deliver affordable, reliable high-speed internet to every community nationwide. New York State is set to receive nearly $665 million of this fund to help extend its internet reach.
However, despite previous efforts, many communities, particularly those in rural upstate areas, still lack affordable, reliable high-speed internet access. To avoid repeating previous broadband programs’ shortcomings, the Senate Republican Conference advocates prioritizing these communities in the new federal fund allocation.
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