Get Involved
The ConnectALL Office has published New York's BEAD Five-Year Action Plan. The listening sessions, focus groups, stakeholder forums and town halls outlined below have been instrumental to informing our work and creating this Plan. We thank New Yorkers in every region of the state who shared their insight, experience, and vision for the digital future of their communities.
The ConnectALL Office’s overarching mission is to transform New York’s digital infrastructure and make sure high-quality, affordable, broadband is available to all residents and businesses in the state. To make this possible, we have developed New York’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) 5-Year Action Plan, and this Fall, will be publishing New York's State Digital Equity Plan, and BEAD Initial proposals Volumes 1 & 2. These plans will lead to the activation of unprecedented Federal funding made available through the Infrastructure, Investment, and Jobs Act (IIJA). To inform our work ConnectALL has partnered with digital equity coalitions and organizations in regions across the state to gather input from a vast array of stakeholders. Our outreach and engagement efforts have included:
- Listening Sessions held in every region of the state and in each New York City borough identified barriers, opportunities, and needs related to accessing reliable and affordable high-speed broadband.
- 40+ Focus Groups heard from marginalized populations including low-income households, veterans, aging individuals, formerly incarcerated individuals, people with disabilities, people with language barriers, racial and ethnic minorities, and rural residents. Our regional partners have also contributed to the development of our statewide Needs Assessment and Asset Inventory
- More than 5,500 responses to a statewide public survey
- Virtual Stakeholder Forums (which are ongoing) for organizations to learn about the ConnectALL planning process and how to become eligible to receive funding.
- The NYS Digital Equity Task Force Town Halls led by ConnectALL and the NYS Library which convened experts across state government, and the public to learn how digital equity can improve outcomes in 5 key areas: Health, Workforce Development, Education, Civic and Social Engagement, and the Accessibility of Government Services.
ConnectALL will post upcoming events and other opportunities on this page, in addition to materials from each previous events for public access. Please reach out to [email protected] with any questions or comments.
Stakeholder Forums
ConnectALL engages with a wide range of stakeholders to gather input on our programs, share information, provide technical assistance, and work to ensure successful partnership and collaboration on ConnectALL programs statewide.
Future Stakeholder Forums
Information Session for the AHCP RFA
Time and date details to be announced
This session is open to internet service providers and other broadband deployment entities interested in applying for the AHCP.
The ConnectALL Office (CAO) will discuss the components and minimum requirements of the AHCP Request for Applications (RFA), review eligibility criteria for deployment applicants and affordable housing properties, and preview agreements for service between these parties. CAO will also document and respond to questions about the RFA.
Registration coming soon
Affordable Housing Connectivity (AHCP) Forum for ISPs and Broadband Deployment Entities
Time and date details to be announced
With $100 million in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, the AHCP will provide funding for the broadband infrastructure needed to reach 100,000 affordable housing units across New York State. This program will provide grants to Internet Service Providers and other broadband deployment entities selected through ConnectALL’s AHCP Request for Applications. CAO will enter into agreements with ISPs and housing owners to provide infrastructure at existing affordable housing properties in New York State.
We invite ISPs and other entities experienced in broadband deployments to join us to learn more about this historic funding opportunity.
Registration coming soon
Previous Stakeholder Forums
November 29th, 202: State Digital Equity Planning Update
November 16, 2023: ISP Virtual Forum: BEAD Planning Update
View Video Recording on YouTube
November 13, 2023: Virtual Forum: BEAD Planning Update for Planners from New York’s Large Municipalities, Counties and Regions
View Video Recording on YouTube
November 8th, 2023: State Digital Equity Planning Update
November 6, 2023: Affordable Housing Connectivity (AHCP) Forum for Owners of Regulated Affordable Housing Properties
View Video Recording on YouTube
September 13, 2023: Internet Service Provider (ISP) Forum: Network Resiliency & Cybersecurity
View Video Recording on YouTube
July 19, 2023: Counties and Regional Planning Partners Forum
View Video Recording on YouTube
July 12, 2023: ISP Forum: Working with New York State
View Video Recording on YouTube
June 27, 2023: Community Anchor Institution (CAI) Forum
View Video Recording on YouTube
Regional Digital Equity Contacts
June 20, 2023: ISP Forum: Federal Funding Opportunities
View Video Recording on YouTube
Digital Equity Task Force Town Halls
The ConnectALL Office, in partnership with the New York State Library, has launched a Digital Equity Task Force. The Task Force will help guide the development of the State’s Digital Equity Plan - a roadmap for $1 billion of investments in internet infrastructure and digital equity programming over the next five years. Representatives from over a dozen State Agencies are working with community leaders to launch a series of virtual Town Halls, in five critical outcome areas: Education, Healthcare, Workforce and Economic Development, Civic and Social Engagement, and Accessibility of Government Services.
Previous Town Halls
August 3, 2023: Accessibility of Government Services
Summary Notes Coming Soon
July 31, 2023: Civic and Social Engagement
Summary Notes Coming Soon
July 13, 2023: Health
Summary Notes Coming Soon
June 29, 2023: Workforce and Economic Development
Summary Notes Coming Soon
May 31, 2023: Education
Summary Notes Coming Soon
NYS Regional and NYC Borough Internet and Digital Equity Listening Sessions
In 10 Regional Listening Sessions held in Spring of 2023, ConnectALL gathered input from over 1,000 New Yorkers across the state to build a collective vision of digital equity for New York’s future – including access, affordability, quality, and choice. In Summer of 2023, ConnectALL and Borough partners are conducting Listening Sessions in each of the 5 NYC Boroughs.
Past NYC Borough Listening Sessions
August 30, 2023: Staten Island Listening Session in partnership with La Colmena
August 31, 2023: Brooklyn Virtual Listening Session in partnership with El Puente
August 28, 2023: Queens Virtual Listening Session in partnership with the Queens Borough President
August 24, 2023: Queens In-Person Listening Session in partnership with Far Rockaway Arverne Nonprofit Coalition and Rockaway Development & Revitalization Corporation
August 19, 2023: Bronx Listening Session in partnership with The Knowledge House, Bronx Community Foundation, and BronxNet
June 14, 2023: NYC (Manhattan) Listening Session in partnership with Silicon Harlem and the New York City Office of Technology Innovation
Past NYS Regional Listening Sessions
Southern Tier – April 24, 2023
Central New York – April 4, 2023
Finger Lakes – March 31, 2023
Capital Region – March 30, 2023
North Country – March 28, 2023
Mid-Hudson – March 24, 2023
Western New York – March 22, 2023
Long Island – March 20, 2023
Mohawk Valley – March 15, 2023
Contact Us
Please send your questions or comments to us at [email protected], or call us at 212-803-2242. We will get back to you as soon as we can.