CHENANGO COUNTY – The Chenango County Board of Supervisors is working with local and state representatives to highlight the need for faster internet in Chenango County.

The effort came after Governor Andrew Cuomo announced in his 2021 State of the State address that more than 98 percent of New York’s residences and businesses have access to one or more high-speed internet sources.

According to Governor Cuomo’s Office, there was an almost $500 million dollar investment on behalf of the state to expand broadband internet to 98 percent beginning in 2020. Office representatives acknowledged that without affordable broadband, people are not only disconnected, they are disenfranchised.

A survey released in August of 2020 by former NY 22nd District Congressman Anthony Brindisi showed that Chenango County has the slowest overall broadband speeds in New York with an average of only 6.2 combined Mbps bandwidth, compared to the district's next slowest 28.8 Mbps in Herkimer County.