Advanced network communications and technology solutions provider Windstream has been awarded $2.7 million in Phase 3 of the New NY Broadband Program,
according to a press release from the company. An additional Windstream investment of nearly $675,000 brings the total to almost $3.4 million.
The money will support Windstream's deployment of high-speed broadband to 751 rural locations in Western New York, including Bemus Point, Clymer, Ellington, Jamestown, Lakewood, Panama, Sinclairville, and Steadman. Minimum download speeds of 25 mbps will be enabled.
“Windstream’s participation in the New NY Broadband Program highlights our commitment to deploying broadband in rural areas that would not be economically feasible without public-private partnerships like this one,” Jeff Small, President of Windstream’s consumer and small business segment said in the release. “We are delighted that we were able to take part in such a valuable program, and we applaud the State of New York for its leadership on this important economic development issue.”
Established in 2015 by Governor Andrew Cuomo,
the New NY Broadband Program is the nation’s largest and most ambitious state investment in broadband expansion. The program provides state grant funding through an innovative “reverse auction” method to support projects that deliver high-speed internet access to unserved and underserved areas of New York state at speeds of 100 Megabits-per-second (Mbps) in most areas, and 25 Mbps in the most remote areas. Nearly 90 percent of all funding has been awarded to projects that will address unserved areas of the state, connecting these locations for the first time.