North Country Broadband Installer Technician Jacob Burk fusion-splices distribution fiber-optic cable inside an aerial enclosure for the company’s 10 Gigabyte network in Massena. (Photo provided by Mohawk Networks LLC)

TUPPER LAKE — The town is considering applying for a broadband grant to expand fiber optic cable for high-speed internet to businesses and residents in the town’s business districts, making the town an internet provider.

Town Councilor John Quinn said it is not common for a town to become an internet provider, but also not unheard of. He said he believes if the town can tap into the existing fiber lines, which service a few select locations around town, with assistance from the Development Authority of the North Country it could run a faster, more customer-friendly and possibly cheaper service than the name-brand providers.

The Tupper Lake Broadband Committee sent a survey last year, asking businesses and residents about their current internet service and what they would like changed. Quinn, who is also a member of the Tupper Lake Broadband Committee, said the main issue highlighted by the survey were the need to enhance reliability and speed, and to deliver broadband to the underserved portions of town.

“The recent study … showed there are issues with reliability and speed in the business core,” the grant overview written by committee member and DANC telecommunications division Manager David Wolf says. “The town has also been approached by many constituents saying they lacked access to broadband. This solution satisfies both needs.”

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“Taking the bull by the horns”

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The town board agreed at its April meeting to be a co-applicant with DANC on the Northern Border Regional Commission grant. It would provide $200,000, with $50,000 of additional capital in the form of cash and in-kind contributions. According to the grant overview, DANC will include a cash match of $30,000 to $35,000 to obtain the grant and the town will provide in-kind contributions of $20,000 in the form of office space, antenna space and potentially lower pole attachment fees from the village.

The deadline to apply for this grant is June 1.

“This is an opportunity that doesn’t come knocking every day,” Quinn said.

“I think it’s taking the bull by the horns,” town Supervisor Patti Littlefield said. “I’m all for it myself.”

“With everything that’s going on in the world today, with the internet being as important as it is, I think we’re doing nothing but going forward with this,” said Councilor Mike Dechene, who also is on the Broadband Committee.

If the grant is approved, DANC would be responsible for the preliminary build-out of infrastructure, and the town would be responsible for maintaining the system and handling the business side: billing, customer service, and installing or replacing equipment for customers.

Rates for businesses would be set at $80 per month, with that revenue being split by the town and DANC. Rates for residents would be $40 per month, all for the town.

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Fiber is faster

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Fiber optic cable is currently the fastest way to carry the internet, and a fiber optic backbone, installed by DANC, travels right through town.

The line enters the town from Piercefield via state Route 3, with a spur line going down Washington Street to Little Wolf Beach. The main line continues down Route 3 past the Municipal Park, up Mill Street, crossing Park Street at the middle-high school before connecting to Wawbeek Avenue via Broad Street and continuing toward Long Lake via state Route 30. There are offshoots traveling down Stetson Road and to Flanders Park.

Slic Network Solutions has built several branches off this line, bringing fiber to the Wild Center nature museum, the school buildings, the Adirondack Sky Center, the Goff-Nelson Memorial Library and the Tupper Lake Civic Center.

Quinn said the committee would love to have Slic build out the fiber network in town, but he said the company is more focused on last-mile extensions in other areas of the North Country at the moment.

Quinn said the project would focus on getting connection to businesses in the uptown and downtown areas, and he said he hopes it will attract new businesses, too.

Residents who live in these areas will likely be able to purchase a hook-up to the fiber system.

Quinn also said the project will focus on a wireless last-mile solution, with a near 100% coverage goal. He said wireless antennas could be used to beam broadband around town.

The grant would also include funding for two new Wi-Fi hot spots and upgrade of one at the Municipal Park, which is operated by the Wild Center.

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Cons

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This grant won’t cover operating costs, which DANC and the town have agreed to split. A financial breakdown in the grant overview written by Wolf shows that the service would need 88 customers to break even. At the town board meeting, members said this should be easy to reach.

Still, there is “potential that this could cost the town money,” Wolf wrote. “This risk can be mitigated by the town doing more, and by working with DANC to lower costs.”

Quinn said if worse comes to worst and the town is losing money on the venture, it could be sold to Slic or turned into a nonprofit enterprise.

The grant overview says the project may come with some negative publicity.

“Some people will love it and some will say government should not be involved,” Wolf wrote.

He also said there may be pushback from service providers such as Spectrum and Slic.

“In the past that has led to better service and lower prices from the incumbents but no guarantee,” Wolf wrote. “Spectrum hears about this and either lowers prices and locks up customers to contracts, or they can decide to delay infrastructure upgrades.”