Siobhan Barton is reporting in the Register Star the Columbia Economic Development Corporation last week chose ECC Technologies to conduct a countywide broadband connectivity survey. ECC is a technology and communications consulting group based in Penfield, Monroe County. The details of the components of that $40,000 survey were revealed Thu., Mar. 20, during a forum held at Columbia-Greene Community College. The study will record locations of telephone poles, cell towers, fibertoptics and other structures countywide. The survey is expected to be completed by the end of the summer. One million residents and 4,000 businesses statewide lack broadband access, according to information from the state Office for Technology’s Broadband Program Management Office. As part of his 2015-16 budget proposal, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has included $70 million in broadband investments to ensure statewide high-speed Internet service by 2019. The CEDC plans to request public participation on the broadband issue in the future, but there are no meeting dates planned at this time, said Commissioner Kenneth J. Flood. Read the full story in the Register Star.

Full disclosure: The Columbia Economic Development Corporation is an underwriter on WGXC.