In the last two decades local Congressional representatives have stood on local sidewalks and courthouse steps and made similar announcements. Both Republicans Chris Gibson, and John Faso, and Democrats Kirsten Gillibrand, Scott Murphy, and Antonio Delgado have all promised that another government grant would solve the lack of broadband internet service locally. The latest? Andrea Macko reports in Porcupine Soup that Delgado was in Catskill Oct. 23 for the latest version of the local internet announcement. “Broadband is not a luxury, it is a necessity,” said Delgado. “Funds from the ReConnect program will help communities in upstate New York and across the United States deliver broadband. We must continue to invest in infrastructure to secure high-speed internet for every resident in New York's 19th Congressional District.” On November 24 the U.S. Department of Agriculture will begin accepting applications for up to $1.15 billion in loans and grants to expand broadband in rural areas. Locally, Mid-Hudson Cable previously won one of these grants for better broadband service, and then turned it down. And while locals continue to complain about a lack of service, Greene County Legislature Chair Pat Linger says currently 96 percent of Greene County has broadband coverage, “with 1,300 unique addresses in the most scarcely populated areas left to serve.” So while every local politician still claims the lack of broadband is a problem, Linger says there are only 1,300 addresses in Greene County that still need service. Read more about this story in Porcupine Soup