Gov Hochul Announces $1 Billion 'ConnectALL' Initiative to Bring Affordable Broadband to Millions of New Yorkers

Governor Kathy Hochul (D-NY) announced the ConnectALL initiative, the largest ever investment in New York's 21st-century infrastructure. Under the new initiative, New York State will use over $1 billion in public and private investments to connect New Yorkers in rural and urban areas statewide to broadband. This includes:

• Broadband Assessment Program and Interactive Map: The Broadband Assessment Program will provide New York with the first-ever, in-depth interactive broadband map.
• Grant Programs: The ConnectALL initiative will establish three broadband infrastructure grant programs focused on local connectivity planning and 21st-century municipal infrastructure, rural broadband, and connectivity innovation.
• $30-a-month Affordability Subsidy: The Department of Public Service will ensure every eligible New Yorker can take advantage of the IIJA's $14 billion Affordability Program.
• Affordable Housing Connectivity Program: New York Homes and Community Renewal will expand the affordability of broadband by working with Empire State Development to fund the retrofitting of all affordable housing projects with broadband.
• Digital Equity Program: The ConnectALL initiative will develop a Statewide Digital Equity Plan, establish a Digital Equity Grant Program, and appoint a Digital Equity Director to spearhead these efforts.
• Removing Fees, Outdated Regulatory Hurdles and Leveraging State Assets: This includes a build-free initiative for rural broadband deployment, streamlining make-ready processes, standardizing right-of-way access for cellular and fiber deployments, and more.