Bay Shore, NY - March 1, 2017 - New York State Senator Phil Boyle (R-C-I, Suffolk County) today announced that a state-awarded project will bring high-speed broadband to the Town of Babylon’s Barrier Beaches. The New NY Broadband Program's Round II Grants recently awarded $867,281 to Altice N.V., and leveraged $216,821 in privately matched funds, for a total public-private investment of just over $1 million to bring Captree Island, Oak Island, Oak Beach, Gilgo Beach, and West Gilgo Beach into the digital world.
Senator Boyle said, “This is a big victory for the Babylon Barrier Island Communities which currently lack wireline connectivity. As Chairman of the Senate’s Committee on Commerce, Economic Development, and Small Business, I know that economic growth in our region is reliant upon an infrastructure system that prioritizes connectivity and broadband accessibility. We have pushed very hard for high-speed broadband for our Barrier Island Communities and I’m thrilled that Altice N.V. has been awarded this grant and will soon install the infrastructure needed to bring high-speed broadband to these unserved areas.”
Providing broadband will enable Town Beach and State Park attendees to access vital services. High-speed broadband will also greatly enhance emergency service communications and response for fire and rescue services that provide coverage to the Barrier Island Beach Communities.
In 2015, Governor Cuomo and the Legislature partnered on the creation of a $500 million New NY Broadband Program to provide companies with an economic incentive to extend broadband to unserved and underserved areas of the state. This program is recognized as the largest and most ambitious state investment in broadband in the nation. Awardees must complete their projects by December 31, 2018.
