Bridging the Digital Divide: Franklin County Secures $2.4M Municipal Infrastructure Grant
In the northern region of New York State lies Franklin County, a county where the charm of nature meets the warmth of its people. With its expansive landscapes and a rich tapestry of demographics, the county is a microcosm of the diversity that defines the state.
Demographics: Franklin County’s population stands at approximately 46,373, showcasing a slight demographic shift since the 2020 census. The community is a blend of various ethnicities and is balanced across different age groups, with nearly equal representation of males and females.
Geography: The county’s geography spans 1,629.3 square miles, offering a variety of terrains from undulating hills to tranquil water bodies. The elevation averages 1,621.72 ft, setting the stage for breathtaking landscapes and a host of recreational opportunities.
Economy and Education: Economically, the median household income is $55,279, and efforts are ongoing to uplift the 16.7% of residents below the poverty line. Education is a cornerstone, with a high school graduation rate of 88.1% and 21.6% of residents achieving a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Broadband Expansion: The ConnectAll Initiative
In a landmark move for progress, Franklin County has been awarded $2.4 million through the ConnectALL Municipal Infrastructure Grant Program. This initiative marks a pivotal step towards closing the digital divide and fostering a connected community.
“The Franklin County project will reach more than 1,600 homes and businesses, including many of the hardest to reach unserved locations in the County, navigating around natural wetlands, areas with no utility service, and areas that already have fiber optic infrastructure. Franklin County will work with the Development Authority of the North Country, which has two decades of experience managing public fiber optic infrastructure, to build 36 miles of open access fiber to the utility poles along the locations to be served. SLICFiber, a private internet service provider, will connect the homes and businesses and there is capacity in the network to support additional providers. The project will allow remote residents to access telehealth services and engage in remote work.” (Press Release from the Governor of NYS)
This initiative is part of a larger effort to expand high-speed broadband access across New York State, aiming to close the digital divide and provide reliable internet service to underserved areas.
Related Links:
Link to the New York State Municipal Infrastructure Program website
ECC Technologies Role
In September 2023, Franklin County hired ECC to create a Broadband Buildout Plan to determine the number of unserved and underserved locations, recommend a path for connecting these homes to high-speed broadband, and identify the broadband technology types for each town. At the conclusion of the study in November, ECC recommended that the county pursue the NYS Municipal Infrastructure Program (MIP) to extend the Development Authority of the North Country's Telecommunications Network to start the process of covering 100% of the unserved areas within the county.
In December, Franklin County engaged ECC again to create a priority list of unserved addresses to assist in areas of the county for broadband service based on the Broadband Buildout Plan. This led to the creation of three areas that became the three BEAD grant areas developed by the NYS ConnectALL Office. In February, Franklin County once again engaged ECC to assist with submitting an MIP Phase 1 grant.
Since ECC was involved with Franklin County dating back to the fall of 2023, the county designated ECC as the Project Manager for implementation of the MIP Phase 1 project. In this role, ECC will oversee the 2-year project to build 36 miles of fiber optic network, working with DANC and SLIC to bring broadband service to more residents of Franklin County, starting with the Town of Franklin, which has the highest number of unserved locations.