I always appreciate how many of you reach out to me with your thoughts and concerns. There are many major state issues that affect you, from the economy to our children’s education. One issue my constituents often bring up supports the growth of the economy and enriches our children’s education — access to high-speed Internet.

There are some who are fortunate to have easy access to broadband Internet. Yet, many rural communities here in the North Country and the Mohawk Valley are entirely underserved or without any access to high-speed Internet.

The benefits of access to broadband Internet are pretty clear. Simply put, high-speed Internet is essential for business growth, seeking and applying for employment, providing higher educational opportunities, offering primary education enrichment, and helping residents with professional, personal and interpersonal development.

The state aims to give each New Yorker high-speed Internet access by 2018. This is a big goal, which the state is backing with $500 million in capital funds. The New York Broadband Program Office, which is part of Empire State Development, is charged with administering this and will be working with the Regional Economic Development Councils to gather local input from municipalities.

But you can help.

The Broadband Program Office is offering a survey to determine which areas are underserved or without broadband Internet service. Please take the survey at www.nysbroadband.ny.gov/Your-Internet-Access. You also may call 866-322-5787. It is tremendously important that they get an accurate idea of our needs in order to begin the process in our region.

It may be a reality that even with capital investment our most rural reaches of this state may not be able to have access to wired Internet. As this project gets underway, I will be pushing for solutions to increase the effectiveness and improve the affordability of wireless Internet technology in our region. We must work together to create solutions to ensure improved broadband internet access for all New Yorkers.

As always, I welcome your input. Please contact me by emailing blankenbushk@assembly.state.ny.us or by calling me at 493-3909.