East Aurora Advertiser

Town Board Working to Increase Internet Access



There is a portion of the Town of Aurora that feels like it’s not part of the twenty-first century. On a section of Knox Road, residents do not have access to the internet.

Council Member Luke Wochensky has been working with property owners and Charter Communications (Spectrum) to find a solution for the nearly 10 homes that are impacted. Wochensky recently had the internet provider out to the area to survey the situation and bring service to the dead spots. Spectrum has estimated that bringing internet access to this section of town will cost $86,000 plus an additional $45,000 to get service from the road down to each home. Spectrum will cover $17,000 of this amount.

“Houses more than 250 feet off the road would also require an investment. It was a long road to even get them to commit to the $17,000,” Wochensky said. “They are allowed to be a monopoly in this area because of certain regulations. There is no law that says they have to supply this service to you.”

Wochensky told the Knox Road residents who were at the Jan. 9 meeting that the federal government has given New York State approximately $7 million for the “Internet for All” program. The town would like to apply for a portion of this money to help cover the cost. 

Wochensky asked the residents at the meeting to go to the Federal Communications Commission website and enter their addresses. He said this website shows that homes on this section of Knox Road do have internet access and they need to challenge that in order to increase the chance of qualifying for state funding. He then said that residents should send letters asking state representatives for help.

Charter Communications field engineering department in the spring of 2022 that there are 170 addresses in Erie County without access to the internet. Seven are in Aurora and 13 are in Marilla. Newstead and Collins have the most, with 44 and 47 respectively.

The Town of Marilla is assisting residents on East Blood Road and Liberia Road using funds from the American Rescue Plan Act. The work will begin in April.

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