Grants for Broadband in New York

9/19/2012 (Updated 7:00:28 PM)

New York is looking to close the broadband gap, something the state says leaves 700,000 people without internet access.

New York is offering 25 million dollars in grants to public and private organizations, including businesses,  to expand high-speed internet access.

Groups need to secure 20 percent of the requested grant amount on their own.

Regional economic development councils raised the issue of a lack of high-speed internet access in rural areas upstate and some urban areas downstate.

"It was really a big strategy that was determined by all the strategies of the Regional councils. Almost every one of them mentioned access - either cell access or broadband access - as really a deterrent to economic development growth," said David Salway, Director of the New York State Broadband Program Office

The deadline for the grants is October 5th. Grant awards are expected to be announced some time in November.