The operational framework for the Poloncarz administration’s ErieNET broadband initiative took shape on Monday morning as the ErieNET Local Development Corporation (“LDC”) Member and Board of Directors met. At the organizational meeting Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz, the Member of the LDC, confirmed and appointed the members of the Board of Directors of the Corporation (“the Board”), approved the form of proposed by-laws of the LDC, and authorized the Board and Officers to carry out the LDC’s business.   

 “Today’s meeting focused on the legal structure of ErieNET LDC, the organizational framework that is needed to form the backbone of our broadband initiative. This is an important step as we move forward in developing and launching nearly 400 miles of new broadband infrastructure in Erie County,” said Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz. “We now have a Board of Directors in place, chaired by Thomas Baines from our Department of Environment and Planning. Other business today included the adoption of a mission statement and an organizational resolution, all key elements in preparing the LDC to drive ErieNET forward. I thank Mr. Baines and the other members of the Board for their service on what will be a transformational project for Erie County.”

ErieNET will provide a robust, middle-mile broadband infrastructure throughout the county, attracting both fiber and wireless providers for last mile services, particularly those in more rural communities. By creating an open access network Erie County will lower barriers of entry for service providers, create competition and choice for both business and residential customers and will project the City of Buffalo, the county and the region at large as a leading technological community. Quality of life and government and public safety operations will be improved while schools and communities are better connected. Public libraries, Town and Village halls, various county-owned facilities, and other sites are included among the 152 identified anchor sites for the initiative.

The ErieNET initiative’s estimated construction and startup cost of $34 million is covered primarily by federal American Rescue Plan (“ARP”) funding, with $2.8 million in county funding allocated to support backbone construction of the new network.

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