Sullivan Awarded $30 Million State Grant for Widespread Broadband Service

Wednesday, November 13, 2024

Monticello, NY - Sullivan County is poised to dramatically expand high-speed broadband Internet service thanks to a nearly $30 million grant.

Governor Kathy Hochul and U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced today over $140 million in awards from the ConnectALL Municipal Infrastructure Grant Program to expand broadband infrastructure throughout New York State. These public-private partnerships will lead to the construction of more than 1,200 miles of publicly-owned fiber-optic infrastructure and wireless hubs, connecting over 60,000 homes and businesses with affordable, symmetric service - offering equal download and upload speeds at a price below regional averages.

Sullivan County is receiving $29.9 million through this program.

"This is incredible news - I'm elated!" affirmed Sullivan County Legislature Chair Nadia Rajsz. "We have been working toward this goal for years, and now we can confidently move forward to bring every part of Sullivan County into the 21st century of super-high-speed and affordable Internet access."

"This award represents the largest grant Sullivan County has ever received for a single project, and we are immensely grateful to Governor Hochul and Empire State Development for their faith in and advocacy for this important project," said Sullivan County Manager Joshua A. Potosek. "In collaboration with our longtime partner Archtop Fiber, we now have the opportunity to launch a new era of high-speed, reliable, widespread connectivity throughout Sullivan County, ensuring broadband availability is as common and easily obtained as electricity. Our residents, visitors and businesses will benefit tremendously from this technological leap forward."

"Today's award announcement shows the importance of never giving up on a meaningful goal," noted Lorne Green, Sullivan County's commissioner of Information Technology Services and the initiator of this project. "I'm very proud to have been a small part of the County team that worked on this grant request. I'm also grateful to the legislative bodies and County management that have supported this effort over the past 10 years. This is an important investment in Sullivan County's future and a transformative first step toward a goal of 100% coverage, new opportunities, and growth for our community in the decades ahead."

Sullivan County last year signed a memorandum of agreement with Archtop Fiber to jointly develop a plan to extend multi-gig fiber within the County. The technology being deployed is capable of providing both upload and download speeds up to 10Gbps, and Archtop is investing several hundreds of millions of dollars across the Hudson Valley. The County's emergency communication towers will also be connected to Archtop's system, with the goal of offering wireless broadband service to areas that otherwise would be significantly difficult or expensive to reach with fiber.

"We're honored to have been selected to partner with Sullivan County on this incredible initiative that goes beyond connectivity - it's about creating real opportunities for economic growth, education and healthcare in our communities," said Shawn Beqaj, Chief Development Officer of Archtop Fiber. "Through Governor Hochul's ConnectALL Initiative, we're proud to serve as a dedicated local partner, bringing our expertise in fiber-optic construction to serve over 22,000 homes and businesses. This grant is a transformative milestone in bridging the digital divide, and we'll work hand-in-hand with community leaders to move this project forward quickly to deliver high-quality Internet access that's built to last."

About the Project

Sullivan County is partnering with Archtop Fiber to serve over 22,000 homes and businesses, leveraging the County's existing towers and Archtop's capabilities in fiber optic construction. Sullivan County will own the infrastructure, while Archtop Fiber and Hudson Valley Wireless will serve as internet service providers. The County will build 253 miles of fiber and one new communication tower, in addition to 11 towers it already owns, extending broadband service to unserved and underserved locations. Sullivan County faces unique challenges due to its rural, mountainous terrain, low population density and status, as the most distressed of the seven counties represented by the Hudson Valley Regional Council that have long deterred broadband deployment in the County. This initiative reverses that trend for many of the unserved homes in the county and creates new opportunities in health, education and economic well-being.

About Archtop Fiber

Archtop Fiber offers the fastest, most reliable, environmentally friendly and affordable Internet access to communities across the Northeast. With decades of experience and success, Archtop provides multi-gig, symmetrical, all-fiber Internet solutions that open doors for community growth and prosperity. Archtop's future-forward network and Internet services deliver reliable, lightning-fast access to entertainment, healthcare, employment and education opportunities. From businesses and hospitals to farms and families, Archtop Fiber prioritizes exceptional service and an unwavering community focus to create a brighter, tech-driven future for all.

For more information, visit www.archtopfiber.com.