Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced Wednesday, Jan. 31, Round III of the New NY Broadband program, providing funding toward high-speed internet access for St. Lawrence County residents and others across the state.

The $209.7 million Round III awards will provide 122,285 homes, businesses and community institutions across the state with access to high-speed internet, driving in aggregate more than $341.8 million of public/private broadband investment.

North Country Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, R-Willsboro, applauded the of state, federal and private funding to increase access to broadband internet/

“Broadband internet is critical to succeeding in a 21st century economy and I applaud this announcement to ensure families across our district have access to this needed resource,” Stefanik said.

“Increasing access to broadband will increase commerce in our region and expand educational opportunities for our children,” she said. “We must continue to work together at the local, state, and federal level to ensure North Country families have the resources they need.”

This represents the third and final round of the program and the completion of the Governor's promise to connect all New Yorkers to high-speed Internet for the first time in state history. Since the program's launch in 2015, Governor Cuomo has secured high-speed Internet upgrades for approximately 2.42 million locations statewide. These latest awards through Round III of the New NY Broadband Program will close the final gap and bring high-speed broadband to all New Yorkers in every corner of the state.

"Access to high-speed internet is critical as New York works to deliver the resources needed for industries to thrive and businesses to remain competitive in the 21st century global economy," Governor Cuomo said.

In Round III, 43 awarded projects will address unserved territories, approximately 7,544 miles of broadband infrastructure will be deployed, and residents and companies in eight regions across New York will have access to new economic opportunities.