REDMOND, Wash., Aug. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- On Wednesday, Microsoft Corp. announced it selected CvWireless as a winner of its third annual Airband Grant Fund to help bring broadband internet access to rural communities. As one of eight winners, CV Wireless is using innovative broadband solutions to connect 300 households in Essex County, New York, including the towns of Whallonsburg, Willsboro and Reber. The Airband Grant Fund is part of the Microsoft Airband Initiative, which aims to help close the broadband access gap in rural America by 2022.

"CV Wireless is working to ensure the citizens of Essex County have the broadband access they need to connect and compete with their more urban neighbors," said Shelley McKinley, Microsoft's head of Technology and Corporate Responsibility. "Their use of innovative technologies like TV white spaces will help close the broadband gap in the New York state."

The Microsoft Airband Grant Fund seeks to spark innovation to overcome barriers to affordable internet access, through support of high-potential, early-stage startups creating innovative new technologies, services and business models. This year's grantees receive cash investments, access to technology, mentoring and networking opportunities.

"CvWireless is honored to be recognized for innovation and its continued response to its rural communities' need to access high-speed internet service. The Microsoft grant provides needed funds to continue to enhance our communities' internet access by reaching those locations that are truly the last mile of our mountainous and wooded paradise," said Beth Schiller, owner of CvWireless.

Broadband is the electricity of the 21st century. It is a necessity to start and grow a small business and take advantage of advances in agriculture, telemedicine and education. In the United States, more than 24 million Americans lack broadband access, including 19.4 million people living in rural areas.

Below is a list of this year's Microsoft Airband Grant Fund recipients. More about the Microsoft Airband Grant Fund can be found here.

• CvWireless (New York, United States)
• Skylark Wireless (West Virginia, United States)
• Tribal Digital Village (California, United States)
• Numbers4Health (California, Maine & Texas, United States)
• Mesh Power (Rwanda)
• Cold Hubs (Nigeria)
• Agsol (Kenya)
• ME Solshare (Bangladesh)

About CvWireless

CvWireless is an internet service provider (ISP) that supports rural customers in Essex County, New York. Using a combination of fixed wireless solutions, including TV white spaces, they deliver affordable broadband to households, farms, government offices, and small businesses.

About Microsoft

Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT" @microsoft) enables digital transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.

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SOURCE Microsoft Corp.