On January 14, 2025, New York Governor Kathy Hochul delivered her State of the State Address, which included announcement of the Excelsior Broadband Network, a statewide public broadband network which will connect public broadband assets through a state-of-the-art fiber line that runs the length of the New York Thruway – improving high speed internet and reliable cell phone service in rural and urban areas of the state.
Gigi Sohn, Executive Director of AAPB released the following statement:
The state of public broadband in New York is strong! We applaud Governor Hochul’s decision to launch a statewide public broadband network and use it to serve as a critical middle mile connection, acting as the backbone that will connect New York State’s many public broadband providers. The Excelsior Broadband Network, combined with the state’s Municipal Infrastructure Program investments are a significant win for the people of New York and one we hope will invigorate a wave of community-owned networks throughout the country.
This announcement clearly illustrates a positive trend—states are committing to broadening access to reliable, affordable Internet connectivity for all, and with public broadband now over 770 networks strong, New York is at the vanguard of ensuring that local communities are connected to everything that broadband enables.
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Aaron Alberico
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