The Last Mile Problem Isn’t Funding Anymore. It’s Policy.

New York is on the verge of universal broadband. With more than 97% availability and over 21,000 miles of fiber deployed, the state has made real progress.
But as highlighted in a recent op-ed by the New York State Telecommunications Association, the final stretch, particularly in rural regions like the Adirondacks, is now at risk, not because of funding, but because of how deployment is governed.
Key challenges are emerging:
• Sharp increases in pole attachment and make-ready costs, in some cases over 170%
• Mid-project cost changes that undermine already fragile rural builds
• Limited transparency in utility processes
• Property tax structures that discourage investment in hard-to-serve areas
These are not marginal issues. They are determining which communities get connected, and which are left behind.
At the same time, BEAD and NYS ConnectALL are bringing unprecedented investment. Without addressing these structural barriers, we risk limiting their impact, especially in rural regions.
And the geography of this challenge is not evenly distributed.
While the Adirondack region represents less than 1% of New York’s population, it likely accounts for 5–10% of the state’s remaining unserved broadband locations. A disproportionate share concentrated in one of the state’s most terrain-constrained regions.
In other words, the Adirondacks are not just part of the last mile problem. They are central to it.
From an economic development perspective:
• Workforce attraction and retention depend on connectivity
• Small business growth and entrepreneurship require reliable broadband
• Tourism and visitor experience are shaped by digital expectations
• Healthcare and education systems rely on stable access
This is not just a broadband issue. It is a regional competitiveness issue.
There is a path forward:
• Greater transparency and enforcement around pole attachment pricing
• More predictable make-ready and permitting processes
• Targeted incentives, including the proposed Broadband Opportunity Areas legislation
EDC Warren County, through efforts like the North Country Broadband Alliance and partnerships with state stakeholders, is working to close these gaps on the ground.
But finishing the job will require alignment across utilities, regulators, providers, and policymakers. The last mile will not be solved by funding alone. It will be solved by fixing the systems that determine how that funding gets deployed.
To read Op-Ed: https://lnkd.in/dAVQP7UJ