Another broadband option is coming to Jamestown to be offered through the Public Utilities Board in partnership with two other organizations.

Governor Kathy Hochul and Senator Charles Schumer announced earlier this week that BPU has received a grant, along with six other areas, to help expand high-speed Internet and broadband infrastructure across the state. These six new grants – to Orleans County, Schoharie County, the Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board, Franklin County, Sullivan County and the City of Jamestown – build on previous awards, bringing the total for NY’s ConnectAll program to $214.7 million.

The New York State Opportunity/ConnectAll Agency Municipal Infrastructure Program awarded EntryPoint Networks $29,926,817 to undertake the project locally with BPU and Quanta Telecom Solutions. The grant funding will allow BPU and its partners to build public fiber infrastructure to be made available to customers in the utility’s Jamestown, Celoron, Falconer and parts of Ellicott City electric territory. The system will be open access to minimize infrastructure while providing consumers with competitive options over their Internet providers and other related services. BPU will own and operate the fiber optic infrastructure, while ISPs will provide services on that shared infrastructure.

The proposed parameters for the fiber optic network include the BPU electrical service area, which covers approximately 22 square miles and includes urban, suburban and rural areas. BPU partners will help create the fiber network.

BPU, as the owner of the infrastructure, will be responsible for the preparatory work, plant operations, access to existing facilities, operational support and utility frameworks. EntryPoint Networks is responsible for logistics architecture, technical assistance, network electronics supply, Open-Access operational platform, technical team training and operational support. Quanta Telecom Solutions will handle design, engineering, materials and logistics, construction, factory team training and outside factory support.

General Manager David Leathers said this grant was something the BPU applied for back in late July and early August. He added that this is something the BPU is very excited about, calling it “super meaningful for the community.”

“Open access models in other communities have demonstrated the ability to create true competition in the marketplace to lower costs for consumers while improving service levels,” Leathers said. “BPU prides itself on being a good steward of public resources, managing resources ethically and transparently for the benefit of our clients. We are excited about the project opportunity to work with EntryPoint and Quanta and are truly grateful to Governor Kathy Hochul and NYS Empire State Development for this unique new opportunity to help build the state’s digital infrastructure to better serve our community.”

In addition, Leathers said the network’s goals include economic development opportunities and an improvement in the standard of living by improving public safety, education, health care, emergency communications and government services. It will also allow BPU customers to have another option for their internet apart from their current providers.

“This will give the community more options for Internet service,” Leathers said.

Depending on the timing of the contract award, Kristofer Sellstrom, BPU’s deputy general manager, said work would begin immediately. The first phase of the effort will involve the BPU starting groundwork and replacing the poles. Construction of the entire project is expected to be completed in 2026.

“There will be a lot of new infrastructure in the electric division, including new poles that will be installed to support electrification and distributed energy such as solar and batteries,” Sellstrom said.

Leathers added that in addition to giving people another internet option in the area, it is set to provide reliable service at a lower cost. Rates are expected to be around $50.20 per month for 300 Mbps and $65.20 per month for 2 Gbps. Customers will be contacted to sign up for the service later next year, with no sign-up costs during the two-year grant period.

Ellen Ditonto, BPU’s business development coordinator, said outreach in places for young students, such as schools, will also be an important part of this upcoming project for BPU.

“We want to make sure young students have the Internet access they need and cost is part of that,” Ditonto said. “We’ll be working with the schools, visiting PTA meetings and doing outreach to say how this will help the community.”

Leathers added to that, saying the BPU will make sure to reach out to the community in any way they can as they prepare for this project.

“We want to give people an opportunity to ask any questions they might have,” Leathers said. “This is a great deal for our community.”