HUDSON (NEWS10) -- Columbia County is making significant strides in closing the digital divide, with administrators promising that all residents who want high-speed internet will have access within the next two years.
For nearly a decade, the Columbia County Board of Supervisors has partnered with the Columbia Economic Development Corporation to address gaps in broadband coverage across the region. The effort has been a mix of persistence, collaboration, and resourcefulness, leveraging state and local grants to upgrade infrastructure.
"Several residents came to the Board of Supervisors or spoke to me personally about their concerns with broadband access," said Matt Morrell, Chairman of the Columbia County Board of Supervisors. "That’s when we decided to form a broadband committee."
Thanks to these efforts, the county has gone from over 13,000 underserved properties to just 600 remaining.
David Berman, Chair of the Town Broadband Committee, has also played a critical role, working alongside local internet providers and state and federal governments to secure funding and extend fiber internet to as many residents as possible. "It's an ongoing process," Berman noted. "The more remote areas will probably take a couple of years to reach, but if you’re just two houses away from someone who has service, it’s coming soon."
The county is banking on over $600 million in federal funding, which was approved for New York State on August 13th, to help connect the final 600 underserved properties. However, the effort doesn’t stop at simply providing access.
"Not only do we want to ensure everyone has access," said Michael Tucker of the Columbia Economic Development Corporation, "but we also want to expand the use of broadband—whether it’s for telemedicine, education, or participating in local government."
As Columbia County continues to push for broadband for all, residents can expect to see the benefits of connectivity ripple through the community, from schools to libraries to public services.
