The ConnectALL Municipal Infrastructure Program, administered by New York State and funded through the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Capital Projects Fund under the American Rescue Plan, supports the construction of publicly owned, open-access broadband infrastructure throughout the state. The initiative is designed to ensure equitable broadband access by funding municipal and public-private partnership models that deliver high-speed, affordable internet to underserved areas.

For Phase 4 of the program, nearly $50 million is available in funding. Individual grant awards are expected to be under $10 million. Applications must be submitted through the New York State Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) Portal by April 25, 2025, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. A required component of this funding cycle is that all infrastructure must be substantially complete and fully operational by December 31, 2026, per U.S. Treasury guidelines.

Eligible applicants include municipalities (cities, counties, towns, villages), Tribal Nations, state and local authorities, nonprofit entities established under Section 99-y of the New York State General Municipal Law, regional planning boards, municipal utilities, and nonprofit utility cooperatives. These public applicants may partner with private entities such as Internet Service Providers (ISPs), Managed Service Providers (MSPs), broadband infrastructure builders, and infrastructure owners to deliver the projects.

Projects funded through this program must result in open-access broadband networks, allowing multiple ISPs to utilize the infrastructure, thus promoting affordability and competition. The infrastructure will be publicly owned or controlled and must serve the broader goals of ConnectALL, which include digital equity and economic development through enhanced broadband access.

A Phase 4 Request for Applications (RFA) was issued on March 27, 2025, and an informational webinar will be held on April 3, 2025, to guide applicants through the process. Application instructions, guidelines, checklists, and templates are available on the ConnectALL website.

For questions regarding the program, applicants should contact the program directly at MIP@esd.ny.gov. All proposals must align with program guidelines and demonstrate readiness, capacity, and a plan for timely and successful implementation.