Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara welcomed Senator Kirsten Gillibrand to the Fonda-Fultonville Elementary School in the 111th Assembly District to support her efforts to expand access to affordable high-speed internet in rural communities.

Senator Gillibrand announced the Broadband Connections for Rural Opportunities Program Act, bipartisan legislation that makes funding available for rural broadband projects in areas like Montgomery County.

“There is no doubt anymore that students in today’s world must have access to high-speed internet in order to get ahead, but there are still too many families in the Fulton-Montgomery region that lack access to this essential technology,” said Senator Gillibrand. “The Broadband Connections for Rural Opportunities Program Act would bring much-needed federal funding to rural communities that want to install broadband internet but don’t have the resources to do it on their own. I am proud to lead this bipartisan legislation in the Senate, and I urge all New Yorkers to join me in raising their voices about the importance of broadband internet in our rural communities.”

Assemblyman Santabarbara talked about the state’s commitment through the New NY Broadband Program, and how this is an opportunity for the program to work together with Senator Gillibrand's new initiative to make affordable high-speed Internet a reality for more families and businesses in rural areas like Fonda and Fultonville. “The Broadband Connections for Rural Opportunities Program Act is a smart investment for the future of our communities that brings good-paying jobs and helps our local businesses grow and thrive,” said Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara. “I want to thank Senator Gillibrand for her advocacy and leadership in crafting this much-needed legislation that helps make affordable high-speed internet a reality for more families and businesses, especially in rural areas like ours,” Santabarbara said. “With the state’s commitment through the New NY Broadband Program, working together with the Broadband Connections for Rural Opportunities Program Act, I’m confident that we can expand this critical piece of 21st century infrastructure, create new economic opportunities, better educational outcomes and improve quality of life for residents.”

"The establishment of broadband services in our school district's rural areas is critical. Fonda-Fultonville has made it a priority to integrate technology into our classrooms to make sure our students will be successful in college and career,” said Matt Sullivan, President of the Board of Education at the Fonda-Fultonville Central School District. “Eleven percent of our students can't get the internet at home because of limited broadband services, so we provide them with opportunities outside of the regular school day by opening computer labs after school. We're also exploring the possibility of school-owned hot spots, and testing the cost and technical feasibility of Wi-Fi on school buses. These initiatives, however, offer less benefits compared to dedicated broadband at students’ homes, and require resources that could be used for the district’s academic programs."