DFT Communications Successfully Finishes Broadband Expansion for New NY Broadband Program Phase II Grants
More Than 1,000 Households and Businesses Gain Broadband Access
Nearly 143 miles of New and Upgraded Fiber-Optic Lines for Rural Communities
DFT Lightspeed Fiber Optic Internet Technology Offers up to 300 Mbps High-Speed Internet Capability
[FREDONIA, NY] – DFT Communications today announced on-time completion of its New NY Broadband Program projects to expand high-speed broadband Internet service to more than 1,000 homes and businesses in unserved and underserved rural areas of Chautauqua County in Western New York.
The completed project, which deployed nearly 143 miles of new and upgraded fiber-optic lines across the Towns of Arkwright, Charlotte, Chautauqua, Pomfret, Sheridan and Stockton, along with parts of the City of Dunkirk, met the provider’s commitment for its New NY Broadband Program Phase II grant addressing the Western New York Region.
It was all hands on deck at DFT as they drew closer to the completion of their mainline fiber construction. Even Marketing and Public Relations manager Dan Siracuse was called in to lend a hand testing out the newly installed lines.
“DFT Communications is excited to be a part of the statewide initiative to bring advanced Broadband services to rural areas by building over 10,000 miles of fiber in two years”, stated Mark R. Maytum, President and COO of DFT Communications. He continued, “It is both encouraging and energizing that New York State is taking the lead in bringing its citizens advanced Broadband technology”. Maytum went on to thank the Broadband Program Office of the State of New York for having the foresight to bring broadband service to underserved regions of New York State. “Without help from this program, it would have been cost prohibitive to undergo such an expansive project”
“We congratulate DFT Communications on its launch of a new Fiber-to-the-Home network in partnership with the Broadband Program Office,” said Jeffrey Nordhaus, Empire State Development Executive Vice President of Innovation and Broadband. “Broadband is a necessity for all communities in today’s economy and this launch is bringing tremendous benefit to more than 1,000 locations in Western New York, which will be connected to high-speed Internet for the very first time.”
“Our mainline fiber construction is completed, now it’s simply a matter of getting people signed up”, said Kurt Maytum, President and CTO of DFT Communications. “We encourage anyone interested in DFT Lightspeed to give us a call or visit our website to see if their service address is included in the grant area. Even if you aren’t included in this deployment, we are always looking to expand and knowing where service is needed most by the community will help us with future projects like this one.”
This project was supported by $4.26 million in State funding and $1.06 million in private matching funding for a total broadband investment of $5.3 million.
The New NY Broadband Program was developed to help fund the expansion of high-speed Internet service to unserved and underserved areas of New York State. DFT Lightspeed Fiber Optic Internet technology will bring increased connectivity capable of delivering broadband service with 300 Megabits per-second (Mbps) speed and symmetrical upload/download capacity.
DFT Communications recently sent a Congratulations to their first customer to have DFT Lightspeed installed in their home through the Broadband grant, commenting that his service should be awesome! The customer, Chris Wichlacz of Cassadaga, NY responded “I love you!!! It is great so far as I have tested. The only issue is I had to go to work”.
Residents interested in broadband service can learn more by clicking here, or by calling DFT’s fiber hotline 716-673-3931.
About DFT Communications
Founded in 1898 in Arthur R. Maytum’s grocery store, DFT has been serving Western New York for 121 years. DFT Communications is a family of companies linking neighbor to neighbor, friend to friend and business to business.
Over the last 121 years, we’ve updated equipment, expanded services and added subscribers. DFT Communications offers Local and Long-Distance Telephone Service, Business Telephone Systems, Internet Service, Security Systems, Wireless Communications and Call Center Services to those in Western New York and portions of Pennsylvania. You can learn more about the services offered by DFT Communications here.
About the New NY Broadband Program
Recognizing the importance of broadband infrastructure and building on prior State investments in broadband deployment, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo in 2015, with legislative support, established the $500 million New NY Broadband Program. The Program provides New York State grant funding to support projects that deliver high-speed Internet access to unserved and underserved areas of the State, with priority to unserved areas, Libraries, and Educational Opportunity Centers
