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Madison County New York Grant Application

About

Following the Inventory and BAAT conducted by ECC, Madison County needed to garner funding to move their broadband initiatives forward.

Solution

Madison County decided to pursue a ReConnect Grant through the USDA. Through the Inventory process and continued evaluation, several items were decided upon for the grant application:

  • The identification of 26 proposed funded service areas addressing the broadband needs of 1,427 households and businesses in the County.

  • Defined 8 non-funded service areas with 6,521 businesses and residents to support the sustainability of the project

  • The network would consist of 314 miles of fiber: backbone = 134 miles, PFSA laterals = 164 miles, NFSA laterals = 16 miles

  • Project’s total cost was estimated at $17,655,605

  • A public-private partnership with Empire Access was solidified

Outcome

The grant application was submitted on 4/14/2020. Madison County was awarded $10,156,160 from the USDA ReConnect Program on 10/12/2021.

  • Madison County owns the backbone, laterals, drops, and CPE supporting the PFSA’s and the networking equipment

  • Empire Access to own the laterals, drops, and CPE

  • Empire Access to maintain the entire network, equipment, CPE, take and process customer orders, invoice, and support customers

  • Madison County/Empire agreement – utilize fiber network and equipment in exchange for maintaining and servicing customers and revenue share