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Seneca County has broadband study but no funding plan; accepts $39,000 reimbursement grant for Tyre project
Summary
County supervisors discussed a broadband study completed with regional partners but said no countywide broadband build is funded; the board accepted a $39,000 grant reimbursement for a Town of Tyre broadband project.
Seneca County supervisors reviewed past broadband planning work and accepted a $39,000 reimbursement grant from the Genesee/Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council on Aug. 26 that will be used to reimburse the Town of Tyre for prior broadband work.
Officials said the county previously completed a broadband study — funded and reimbursed through the regional planning council — that identifies towns without broadband and estimates buildout costs by town. Supervisors said the study is available for towns to use in grant applications, but that the county has not budgeted countywide construction funds and has not moved forward on a county-led build because of the anticipated multi-million dollar price tag.
A county supervisor noted there are still grant programs and consultant firms that can pursue funding on the county’s behalf, but added that applying for and securing those grants requires a collective decision and staff follow-through. The committee approved accepting $39,000 in grant funds that will be used to reimburse the Town of Tyre; the county said it was previously reimbursed for the initial study and did not pay for the study directly.
Supervisors described the issue as one of responsibility and capacity: towns may choose to apply for grants using the county’s study as their technical basis, or the county could decide to take a centralized approach and pursue grants for countywide infrastructure. No new county appropriation was approved at the meeting.
The motion to accept the regional grant was moved, seconded and carried on a voice vote.
