Orleans, Niagara counties pleased with state Broadband initiative
ALBION – The Niagara-Orleans Regional Alliance is very supportive of Governor Cuomo’s $500 million initiative to bring broadband access to the entire state.
This is a problem that both of the counties have been working diligently on for the past three years, said Orleans County Legislator Lynne Johnson, who is the lead county representative on the alliance.
Presently, both Niagara and Orleans counties have approximately 50 percent broadband coverage, NORA officials said.
Recognizing that the lack of broadband availability hampers business and educational development, NORA has taken the initiative to survey broadband coverage and identify vertical assets as first steps in bringing countywide broadband to the area.
Orleans County representatives were heartened with the visit of David Salway, director of the NYS Broadband Program Office, to the county last week, said David Callard, chairman of the Orleans County Legislature.
At that conference Salway heard the need for expanded coverage for rural businesses and residents.
In June, Johnson and Callard will be attending a broadband conference in Albany along with Niagara County Legislator David Godfrey.
