State Senator James Seward on Tuesday congratulated Otsego County on the receipt of nearly $560,000 in Connect NY broadband grant program funding for the expansion of high speed internet access to under served areas.

In March 2012, Senator Seward spearheaded an economic summit with Otsego County, the Otsego County IDA, and the Otsego County Development Corporation. Approximately 150 community and business leaders gathered to map a strategy for the county’s economic growth. The summit also included valuable information from state officials on how to apply for state grant funds.

The Otsego County IDA project was among 18 broadband projects selected to receive a Connect NY broadband grant. The nearly $560,000 dollar award will help construct a county-wide, open access fiber backbone to deploy last-mile, wireless broadband to 24 towns, nine villages and one city in Otsego County, serving approximately 28,000 households, 4,500 businesses and 300 community anchor institutions.

The wireless network will also be made available to any viable organization or service provider that wishes to use it.

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