ALBANY, N.Y. — The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has approved New York’s initial proposals for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, securing $664 million to enhance the state’s internet infrastructure.
The funding, part of a $42 billion initiative under the Biden-Harris administration, aims to bridge the digital divide by creating or upgrading high-speed internet networks across the country. NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson described the program as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity.”
“This is our generation’s big infrastructure moment, our chance to connect everyone in America with the tools they need to thrive in the modern, digital economy,” Davidson said.
The approval coincides with ongoing efforts by local leaders in Syracuse to renew the Affordable Connectivity Program, which provides low-income families with affordable internet access. Davidson noted that affordability is a key component of the BEAD program, ensuring that providers who receive funding offer low-cost options to low-income households.
“The state has put together a strong proposal to ensure that good, low-cost options are available, and any provider receiving funding under this program must offer these options to low-income families,” Davidson said.
In addition to improving infrastructure, the program’s funds can be used for high-speed internet adoption, training, and workforce development initiatives.