Roger Hannigan Gilson is reporting in The Daily Mail the state announced its much-anticipated phase two broadband awards Tue., Feb. 28. More than $38 million will go to telecommunication companies in Columbia and Greene counties. In Columbia County, Fairpoint Communications, which serves the eastern and northern parts of the county, will receive $27 million. Frontier Communications, which covers parts of Clermont, Livingston and Gallatin, will receive $2.6 million. Gtel Communications, which serves the southwestern corner of the county, will receive $5.3 million. Mid-Hudson Data Corp., which serves much of Greene County, as well as Hudson and surrounding areas, will receive $850,000, and Margaretville Telephone Company in Delaware County will receive $2.5 million through the program. The funding announced Tuesday is the second of three phases of a state program intended to establish high-speed internet statewide by the end of 2018 through joint public-private investments in the telecommunications infrastructure. The state will begin taking applications for round three of the program in the next 30 days. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.