This latest round of municipal infrastructure grants massively expands upon ConnectALL’s successful pilot projects, funding infrastructure construction across the state. The $140 million in grants will go toward installing publicly owned, open-access fiber optic networks in rural areas of Central New York, the Finger Lakes, Mohawk Valley, North Country, Mid-Hudson and Western New York regions.

Because they’re publicly owned, multiple service providers can use these fiber networks.  Not only will rural New Yorkers have access to high-speed internet connections, they’ll also have more consumer choice—something that is usually lacking in rural areas.

Treating broadband as a basic utility also helps to ensure universal access to all households in these communities. It’s common for some neighborhoods to fall through the cracks between different provider networks, even in highly connected urban areas. It’s incredibly frustrating when streets on either side of your house have access to a different fiber provider, but neither seems interested in extending coverage to your street. New York’s approach avoids these issues while creating more competition in the internet marketplace.

New York also expands broadband access in other ways, such as mandating affordable broadband prices.