West Hudson Valley News

Ghent, NY – U.S. Rep. Marc Molinaro (NY-19) today held a listening session in Ghent to hear from local community members on their local broadband and infrastructure needs. This roundtable comes as gaps in internet in rural communities in Upstate NY persist and following a new report from the NYS Department of Transportation found that over 50 bridges in Greene County and Columbia County were in poor condition.

Rep. Molinaro was joined by Pat Lingar from the Greene County Legislature, Matt Murrell from the Columbia County Board of Supervisors, Ghent Town Supervisor Craig Simmons, Mike Tucker from the Columbia County Economic Development Corporation, Vince Randazzo, Rachel Puckett, and Dave Fingar from Mid-Hudson Cable, Shawn Beqaj from Archtop Fiber, Sam Parker from Spectrum, Scott Brooks from Consolidated Communications, Andrew Ledoux from Columbia Greene Community College, Dr. Ronald Pope from Columbia Memorial Hospital, Phil Trowbridge from Trowbridge Angus Farm, Craig Miller from the New York State Telephone Association (NYSTA), Dr. Sal DeAngelo from Chatham Central Schools, and Dr. Neil Howard Jr from Taconic Hills Central Schools.

Rep. Molinaro said, “Today, I convened a roundtable discussion to hear from leaders in our community on their biggest broadband and infrastructure needs. Rural communities can no longer be an afterthought. For too long, rural communities in Columbia County, Greene County, and across Upstate New York have had to deal with significant gaps in internet connectivity and deteriorating infrastructure. The lack of investment is holding our communities back. I serve on the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee and the House Agriculture Committee. Both committees have jurisdiction over federal grant programs that can help our communities expand broadband and improve their infrastructure. I will continue to fight to get our fair share of these federal dollars.”

Since coming to Congress, Rep. Molinaro has been fighting to deliver greater infrastructure investments for rural communities. For the upcoming Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations bill, Rep. Molinaro announced he is working to increase funding for programs that improve water infrastructure, roadways, and programs that support environmental conservation. Rep. Molinaro is also advocating for federal funding to repair the Village of Athens Watershed Plant, upgrade the Town of Kinderhook Water System, and Leeds Main Street improvements.

Original source can be found here.