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Connect Buffalo
Residents

Pricing & subsidies

Affordable access for residents

Predictable costs built around gifts, grants, and partner support—plus subsidy pathways for qualifying households. Nothing here replaces a formal quote; use it to understand tiers, equipment, and what moves the number on your bill.
Access tiers
3
Subsidized · recovery · community
Planning range
$30–70
Typical monthly estimate band
Next step
Subsidy screening
After your block enters active install

How we think about cost

Affordable isn't a slogan—it's a design constraint. We separate subsidized households (partner referrals, documented eligibility where programs exist) from cost-recovery households that help keep the network solvent without surprise fees.

Pilot neighborhoods roll out in phases. Until your block is in active install, numbers are planning ranges. When scheduling opens, we confirm line-of-sight, indoor wiring path, landlord permission, and the subsidy stack you may already use elsewhere.

Resident path in four steps
  1. 1
    Check address
    Rough eligibility preview on the homepage.
  2. 2
    Plan costs
    Use tiers + estimator here for planning ranges.
  3. 3
    Get notified
    Sign up when your neighborhood nears launch.
  4. 4
    Screen & install
    Subsidy screening after your block is active.

Choose your track

Subsidized access + straightforward equipment

The goal is to remove surprise costs. Use the estimator below for a planning range only—final quotes come after subsidy screening and a quick site readiness check.
Most supported

Subsidized tier

For households referred through partner programs or qualifying subsidy pathways.

  • Low or no upfront cost (when funding is available)
  • Monthly cost reduced via subsidy
  • Digital Navigator onboarding included
Cost recovery

Cost recovery tier

For households outside subsidy pathways who help sustain the community network.

  • Transparent cost-recovery contribution
  • Same network reliability + monitoring
  • Optional in-home Wi‑Fi optimization help
Partners

Community site

Libraries, nonprofits, and community hubs that act as trusted access points.

  • Priority install scheduling
  • Public Wi‑Fi / hotspot support
  • Usage + impact reporting for partners

Exact subsidy eligibility and resident contributions are finalized per neighborhood phase and funding availability.

Interactive tool

Planning estimator & install footprint

Adjust household size and equipment assumptions. Saving the estimate stores a draft on this device only—see our Privacy Policy for how optional tools work.
Quick pricing estimate
An estimate to set expectations. Final pricing depends on neighborhood phase and subsidy funding.
No signup required
Household size
3 people
1–8
We use household size to suggest if mesh Wi‑Fi might help.
Equipment choices
Do you need an indoor router?
Mesh nodes (optional)
1 node
0–3
Larger homes or 5+ people often benefit from 1–2 nodes.
Residential estimate
$59–$69/month
Service (base)$55
Router+$5
Mesh nodes+$4
Large household support$0
Suggested mesh nodes for this household: 1. We’ll confirm after a quick site check.
Are you likely eligible for subsidy?
This calculator is a planning tool. Final pricing and equipment are confirmed during scheduling and may vary by phase, line‑of‑sight, and subsidy availability.
What equipment gets installed?

We keep setups consistent so support stays fast—not a maze of vendor-specific quirks.

  • Outside: Small line-of-sight receiver, weather-rated cabling, alignment and link test.
  • Inside: PoE power, indoor router (or handoff to yours), optional mesh recommendations for larger homes.
  • You provide: A nearby outlet and safe install access; renters receive a simple owner-permission template when needed.
Estimator submissions

Confirming an estimate routes to the team inbox—the same pipeline as other resident inquiries on the site.

Before install day

How subsidy screening fits install scheduling

Context first

We ask how you use connectivity (school, work, health) so Navigators can recommend the right tier—not to harvest unnecessary data.

Same service class

Partner referrals jump triage, not quality. Subsidies change the bill, not escalation paths or network reliability.

Renters included

Landlord permission letters use plain-language templates; install dates move once permission is documented.

Program changes documented

When federal or state programs shift, we publish what changed and what options remain on transparency.

Pricing transparency

What moves the final monthly number

Neighborhood phase

Construction sequencing and subsidy pools are scoped per phase—early pilots may have different caps.

Line-of-sight & roof access

Non-standard mounts or tall trees can add labor or equipment; we tell you before you commit.

Subsidy stack

Documented eligibility reduces monthly obligation; missing docs mean planning assumptions only.

Indoor Wi‑Fi scope

Router + mesh choices affect one-time setup more than recurring service—the estimator reflects both.

Maintenance tier

Navigator-supported troubleshooting vs premium dispatch options may be offered as pilots mature.