Madison County ReConnect Broadband Project

**Please note that this page will be updated as we have more information and the project moves forward.  Last update: November 3, 2023*

Hut placement Sullivan (2) Opens in new windowOn November 3, 2023, Madison County held a hut placement ceremony in the Town of Sullivan.  Construction of the 269 mile long fiber optic network is officially underway.  Please see map below for the 3 Phases of this project.  

Press Release

Press Conference Video

Video of Hut being placed in Sullivan

Project Highlights:

The Madison County ReConnect Project is funded by a USDA Rural Development ReConnect Grant for construction of a capable fiber optic broadband network, leased to Empire Access to reach unserved/underserved homes, businesses, and farms in our County.

  • In July 2021, Madison County was one of two New York State projects awarded the Grant, awarded $10.1 million. 
  • In September 2023, USDA provided supplemental funding for the project.  The total project now stands to cost $18,639,100.
      • USDA Reconnect Grant: $12,782,006
      • Madison County Share: $3,385,387 (25% match)
      • Empire Access Share: $2,471,707
  • The initial build out of the broadband to the Proposed Funded Service Areas (PFSA) will connect 1,087 households, 50 farms, and 30 businesses to high-speed broadband.  To serve these areas, lines will be run in almost a circle through the County.  The plan is after the initial build-out, Empire Access will be able to provide service to communities along that route, and be a major competitor for our existing providers. 
Rural Broadband FAQ Sheet

PFSA's (Proposed Funded Service Areas):

  1. The Proposed Funded Service Area (PFSA) of the Project are the areas that were approved by USDA for build-out using the Grant monies. See the map below of the current PFSA's.  You can zoom in/out to see more detail.  
  2. There are very specific definitions of what addresses and locations can and cannot be included.  
    • Unserved / underserved is defined as <10Mbps download and <1Mbps upload. 
    • It cannot be in an area that previously received Grant monies (state or federal).
    • 90% of the premises in the area must be unserved/underserved to be included.

Current Status of Project:

November 3, 2023 - Madison County placed the first hut, which houses the equipment for the fiber optic network, in the Town of Sullivan marking the beginning of Phase 1 construction.  

June 2023 - Madison County has been working to secure agreements with localities for placement of Huts to house the fiber network.  And is currently working on pole attachment agreements with power companies.  

October 19, 2022 - Fielding the backbone of the fiber network is complete.  Madison County is beginning applications for pole attachment agreements. 

September 21, 2022 - Madison County has awarded an RFP to Graybar for Fiber Optic Cable.  

July 6, 2022 - Engineers from NY Engineering ServMadison County Reconnect Door Hanger ices were out in the community surveying poles and the route for the fiber backbone. The engineers have been out since June 12 and are currently working to survey the section of the network that will run between Oneida, Wampsville, Canastota, Chittenango and Cazenovia. 

May 31, 2022 - Madison County, Empire Access, New York Engineering Services, and ECC Technologies held a construction kickoff meeting.  In the coming weeks a full construction schedule will be announced.  This process will take a few years to complete, but it is moving forward.  

May 10, 2022 - Board of Supervisors Award Contract for broadband network operation to Empire Long Distance. 

May 10, 2022 - Board of Supervisors approve using $3.3 mil of Fund Balance to pay for the Madison County share of the USDA Reconnect Grant to build the FTTP Broadband Network. By using fund balance that we currently have, it will save residents hundreds of thousands if the County had bonded the project. 

April 12, 2022 - Board of Supervisors Award Contract to YES Michigan PC, DBA "New York Engineering Services" to design, permit, and manage the construction of the Madison County Last-Mile Fiber-to-the-Premise (FTTP) Broadband Network. 

Madison County ReConnect Project Map:

New Map Key 10.30.23

Phase 1: Beginning November 2023

  • Sullivan, Chittenango, Lenox, Canastota, Lincoln, Oneida, Stockbridge, Fenner, Cazenovia, and Smithfield

Phase 2: Beginning May 2024

  • Munnsville, Morrisville, Eaton, Nelson, Lebanon, Hamilton, Georgetown, and DeRuyter

Phase 3: Beginning May 2025

  • Madison and Brookfield

**All dates are tentative.  As construction is completed, those areas will be able to begin receiving service.**

Articles:

For the press release from Madison County about this project click here.


For the press release from USDA on this project click here.


To view the press conference announcing this project click here.