NORWICH – The Chenango County Department of Planning and Development is awaiting results of a study vetting the feasibility of broadband Internet connection to businesses in the furthest reaches of the county.

In July, Chenango County administrators approved partial funding of the study. Officials shelled out $15,000 – or 50 percent the cost of the study – with intent to determine the practicality of broadband infrastructure in rural areas where high-speed Internet is currently inaccessible.

The remaining 50 percent of the cost was picked up by Southern Tier East Regional Planning Development, an economic development organization contracted by the county to help identify quality of life issues in the area.

According to Chenango County Planning Director Donna Jones, study results are expected back this month. She said hopes are that the study will entice a private-public partnership to fund construction of broadband infrastructure to businesses and homes in all four corners of the county.

To date, only 25 percent of Chenango County has access to high-speed broadband.

“This is an initiative we believe was worth the investment,” Jones said, noting that the county’s share of the study was drawn from a capital investment account from 2006.

In spite of their reasoning, county officials have received pushback from some residents who say the initiative simply isn’t worth taxpayer investment.