Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz has announced a public meeting to be held on Wednesday, March 22 at 6:00 pm at the Erie County Fire Training Academy to present recommendations from Erie County’s Broadband Internet Study (“the Study”), which began in December 2016. The study featured an online broadband survey campaign for individuals and businesses that collected important information on their broadband experience, speed, and level of service. Recommendations from the study and the concurrent CrowdFiber™ campaign, which assessed both responses on services currently available and those that respondents would like to see, will be discussed. The insights gained will provide local officials with the information necessary to assess broadband needs across the county and develop broadband improvement plans and policies countywide.

“I look forward to seeing the results of the study, which I authorized as a way to hear from residents and businesses across Erie County about their broadband experiences, both good and bad. In 2017, access to reliable high-speed broadband service is imperative for success no matter what field you are working in, but there are gaps and weak spots in broadband service countywide,” said Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz. “Now we have heard from the public and the business community and we will take their comments, perspectives and concerns into consideration as we work to bring steady and reliable high-speed broadband to more areas, especially the traditionally underserved areas, of the county.”

Diminished or non-existent high speed broadband access has educational, economic, and community impacts. In order to gather as much information as possible, the study and campaign allowed residents without Internet access at home to take the survey at their local library and the survey was also distributed through BOCES.

Erie County Legislator Patrick Burke (7th District) added, “Since entering office, I have striven to increase the access, speed, and affordability of broadband internet for residents of Erie County. The completion of this feasibility study arms us with the information we need to better understand the internet service gaps, but more importantly, it gives us a road-map to achieve our ultimate goal of providing twenty first century internet capability for the people of Erie County."

Public Meeting on Erie County Broadband Internet Study and Crowdfiber Campaign Results:

Date: Wednesday, March 22 2017

Time: 6:00 PM

Location: Erie County Fire Training Academy, 3359 Broadway, Cheektowaga NY

Event Contact: Peter Anderson 270-7842