By Dave Lucas
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-952501.mp3
Albany, NY – Access to high-speed internet is often readily available in Northeastern cities: expectations that President Barack Obama's national wireless initiative to expand broadband are falling short in more rural areas, as we hear in this report from Capital District Bureau Chief Dave Lucas.
In a message to Congress attached to his budget for the 2012 fiscal year, President Barack Obama said the U.S. "lags behind other nations when it comes to the infrastructure of the future," noting that "only 63 percent of American households subscribe to high-speed, broadband Internet compared to 95 percent in South Korea and 77 percent in the Netherlands." His $18 billion initiative would provide wireless broadband to 98 percent of Americans over the next five years. But New York's Southern Adirondacks is in "digital dire straits"... Last fall, the hopes of bringing broadband to underserved rural communities in Washington, Warren, Hamilton, Essex, Clinton and Franklin counties were dashed when a $33 million fiber-optic project was denied stimulus funding.
CBN connect has been leading the attempt to expand affordable telecommunications to residents and businesses of Essex, Clinton and Franklin Counties. Company officials note that several broadband expansion projects are in the works. But for the time being, the only internet connection option for most rural areas is dial-up. AT&T Upstate New York Spokeswoman Kate MacKinnon believes Mobile Broadband is the best way to connect Southern Adirondack residents. Adirondack Broadband CEO Mark Dzwonczyk agrees - but thinks it could take up to 5 years for a full roll-out.
In 2010, the City of Albany received a $625,000 grant from New York State to expand Albany FreeNet into several new areas throughout the city. Vermont is working to expand broadband and mobile telephone service to 100 percent of the state by 2013. Last week The Massachusetts Broadband Institute outlined a plan to build 1,338 miles of broadband infrastructure across 120 western and central Massachusetts communities in the next two years.