Cuomo's ambitious plan to expand broadband access could benefit many in

Sullivan County

MONTICELLO — Bolstered by the January announcement that the Federal Communication Commission had revised its benchmark for broadband internet service and the ongoing discussion of net neutrality, Governor Cuomo deployed the Executive Director of the state's Broadband Program, David Salway, to spread the message of his expeditious and aggressive new plan: Broadband for all by 2019.

On Friday, March 27, Salway presented Cuomo's “New NY Broadband Program” at the Sullivan County Government Center to approximately 70 citizens, local and county officials, school officials and local business owners. The plan is ambitious - with a $1 billion price tag, it is the largest broadband investment in the nation, and is also above and beyond the $70 million already spent on broadband improvements since Cuomo took office in 2011.

The plan calls for utilizing $500 million in public money matched dollar for dollar by broadband providers to deliver 100 megabits per second (mbps) broadband service to the entire state, making an exception for rural, remote, unserved and under-served areas, which, under the new program, might only reach a maximum 25 Mbps.

The new FCC broadband benchmark sets downloads at a speed of 25 megabits per second and uploads of 3 Mbps. The previous standard was a download speed of 4 Mbps and an upload speed of 1 Mbps. In New York, the benchmark, as defined in 2012, was 6 Mbps download speed and 1.5 Mbps upload speed. To put that into perspective, at 6 Mbps, it takes approximately 1.22 hours to download a 6 gigabyte movie. The same movie would only take 49 seconds to download at 100 Mbps.

A GAME CHANGER

In rural Sullivan County, access to reliable broadband could be a game-changer for businesses looking to come here or for existing businesses to grow and to simply do business in the 21st century.

“Unreliable internet service is a huge problem for us as a small business,” said Java Love Coffee Roasters co-owner Kristine Petrik. “We are pretty sure we've lost customers due to it, and have many times had to scramble to fill orders due to delays, plus having to babysit our inbox to make sure emails are sent and received. It's 2015 - there's really no reason for it, and it's not like we don't pay for service. Believe me - we pay.”

For educational institutions, access to reliable, expedient broadband is becoming a critical facet in teaching and learning. In light of the voter-approved $2 billion Smart Schools Bond Act, which will allow school districts to upgrade classroom technology, speed is a huge factor.

Even at the new FCC bare minimum standard (25 Mbps), for much of Sullivan County, that is just a bit shy of the fastest and priciest service Time Warner Cable offers.

“Extreme internet,” which clocks in at 30 Mbps, is a far cry from the new goal, but Sullivan County isn't alone. Under the new FCC definition, 5.4 million people in New York State or 27.5 percent of the total population lack access to broadband.

RURAL ACCESS

For Sullivan County, 6 percent of residents have no access to high-speed service, and this number has not changed since Congressman Chris Gibson held the Rural Broadband Symposium at SCCC in October of 2013. Back then, Gibson touted the “hundreds of millions of federal and state dollars” that were available for broadband expansion. That part was true, however accessing those dollars and navigating government regulations was difficult at best.

In addition, little incentive for incumbent internet service providers (ISPs) to expand into rural areas or ease their density requirements made Sullivan County a less-than-desirable location for big corporations to expand their businesses.

Looking back, internet providers were more focused on capitalizing on existing infrastructure and investments than on expanding fiber and cable networks. This time, Cuomo is banking on ISPs stepping up to the plate to make the program work.

During Friday's presentation Salway acknowledged that it will take collaboration, cooperation and patience to accomplish the goals outlined out in the program. New mapping and identification of needs in underserved areas will fall on local municipalities and the regional economic development councils, which has some residents worried. Will being lumped in with Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Ulster and Westchester put Sullivan County on a level playing field? Or will Sullivan County have to be satisfied with the low end of the broadband dream and be stuck at the minimum 25 Mbps offering?

Since funding priority will be given to ISPs that deliver the highest speeds at the lowest costs, wouldn't those ISPs just do what they have done before and build on already established networks in more populous areas?

The plan leaves out a critical facet - especially for the most underserved parts of our state and county - giving priority funding to the installation of new fiber and cable networks, which has always been the most costly roadblock in Sullivan County. Just ask anyone who has attempted to get Time Warner Cable to run a line in a sparsely populated area.

Local leaders are optimistic about the new program - especially since it is more organized that other previous attempts and there is more opportunity to seek assistance in navigating the many obstacles that the program promises.

“The fact that there is so much movement on a Federal level is a great sign,” said Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther. “Now it's time for all of us - local governments, ISPs and everyday citizens - to work together to make this happen. Broadband is responsible for 20 percent of new jobs across all businesses and 30 percent of new jobs in business with fewer than 20 employees. This isn't just about downloading your favorite movies and TV shows, this is about the future of Sullivan County, our region and our state. It is critical that we do this and do it right.”

The small print

The new FCC broadband benchmark and push for net neutrality is certainly good news for Cuomo's ambitious plan of broadband for all, but it won't be a simple task. The new program's success is contingent upon three critical qualifications:

1. Matching private-sector investment. Broadband providers must agree to a 1:1 financial match;

2. Broadband providers must provide internet speeds of at least 100 Mbps, with funding priority given to those delivering the highest speeds at the lowest costs. Providers may offer 25 Mbps speeds to remote areas.

3. Local input to guide development. The Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council (made up of representatives from Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester) must submit a comprehensive plan to the State that identifies unserved and under-served areas; aggregates demand across residential, institutional and business sectors, details the most cost-effective means to provide universal access and leverages state-owned assets where possible.