Gillibrand Visits Hartwick, SUNY Delhi to Discuss Broadband Access, Farm Bill

Hartwick College on Wednesday hosted U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who delivered a press conference on the college campus discussing her proposal to bring broadband Internet access to rural communities. The plan was included in the Senate-passed version of the Farm Bill.

With approximately 1.1 million New Yorkers still without broadband access, Senator Gillibrand's provision would increase access to rural broadband by creating a new grant component to the current Broadband Loan Program, setting up a "one-stop-shop" in the federal government for private sector providers and state and local governments to acquire funding and resources to deliver high-speed Internet to businesses and families.

Other speakers who addressed conference attendees included Barbara Ann Heegan, executive director of the Otsego County the Chamber, and Kathleen Clark, chair of the Otsego County Board of Representatives.

Gillibrand then appeared at SUNY Delhi where she had a conversation about the economic development potential for the Center of Excellence in Watershed Applications and Technology-Based Economic Revitalization initiative.