Grant money makes broadband a possibility in rural areas

CHENANGO COUNTY – The Chenango County Department of Planning and Development is in the early stages of a motion that may ultimately bring broadband internet access to the most rural areas of the county.
Despite its tremendous economic potential, county-wide broadband access is limited to areas where demand makes it worth while for private companies to invest in broadband infrastructure, primarily villages and the City of Norwich. But many local, state and federal legislators aim to change that.
In December, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it would seek applications for the Community Connect grant program, an nationwide initiative to help offset costs of private companies that invest in broadband internet access throughout rural areas like Chenango County. The program offers grants of up to $3 million.
“It’s something that’s very much needed in this county,” said Donna Jones, Director of the County Department of Planning and Development. Jones cited the benefits of broadband that make internet access faster and more efficient for homes and businesses. “There would be a lot of benefit to having it available in all areas of the county,” she said. “Unfortunately right now, the percentage of people in the county with (broadband) is very low.”
The department is seeking counsel from Southern Tier East Regional Planning Development Board (STE), a planning and development organization serving Chenango, Broome, Cortland, Delaware, Otsego, Schoharie, Tioga and Tompkins counties.
Though only one meeting has been had between the department and STE so far, it brought forth a number of concerns, Jones said – primarily that fewer than 25 percent of the county presently has access to a high-speed broadband internet connection. “What we found is that Chenango County is the second lowest of members served by Southern Tier East that has access,” she said.
Recognizing that broadband profoundly influences economic growth, especially in rural areas, STE applied for a federal grant for broadband infrastructure on behalf of Tioga County and was awarded in late 2014. The grant will subsidize a private company to increase broadband internet access throughout the less populated portions of Tioga. The project is currently under construction.
According to STE, high-speed internet ranks among some of the top demands of start-up or relocating businesses, along with highway access, airport access, and utility access.
“If your community doesn’t have that, you’re taken off the list pretty quickly,” said STE Assistant Director Jennifer Gregory.
Perhaps the biggest challenges is getting private companies to invest in broadband infrastructure in rural areas. If they invest, then they want to see a return of their investment, explained Gregory. The average estimate to run fiber optic cable for broadband internet reaches upward of $40,000 per mile – and costs only increase if cable is run underground.
Said Gregory, “If they don’t see a possibility for a return on their investment, they’re not going to pay the high costs of creating that kind of infrastructure ... The only way you’re going to get it into the rural parts of the community is if there is some public investment.”
Gregory also pointed to the increasing use of portable devices such as laptops, tablets and phones that is driving demand for broadband connection. “More and more of these devices require broadband for a wireless connection,” she said. “When you increase the availability of that, you’re not only increasing the chances of attracting businesses, but you’re also increasing the value of homes. It’s a big attraction, especially for younger folks. The old dial up connection is no longer an option.”
While Chenango County has yet to commit to anything, the key to being awarded state or federal funding is a local investment, Gregory added. “With any grant, there’s a local match,” she said. “Weather you’re looking at a federal or state grant, they want to know the community is committed to investing.”

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