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Broadband Expansion Initiative

Access to reliable broadband is essential in today’s world, and the Lewis County Board of Legislators is committed to taking action to ensure each resident has access to this critical resource. In 2020, Lewis County contracted with ECC Technologies to conduct a county-wide inventory of broadband infrastructure and to complete a Broadband Aggregation and Adoption Toolset (BAAT) program that allowed for the collection and analyzation of demand for broadband service within Lewis County. This information has been used as a local planning tool by the Broadband Ad Hoc Committee to identify areas of focus and funding opportunities. Fortunately, with the results from the ECC Technologies reports, Lewis County was awarded several grants to assist with broadband infrastructure expansion and is leveraging their American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to fund fiber installations and free public wi-fi access points.

Lewis County Broadband News

October 31, 2023 – Lewis County Broadband Launch: Copenhagen Area NBRC Project

The second phase of Lewis County’s Broadband Expansion Initiative has officially launched, extending its reach to the Village of Copenhagen and the Towns of Denmark, Copenhagen, Pinckney, Harrisburg, and Montague. This expansion is set to benefit 1,173 users who previously lacked access to reliable internet, with Hudson Valley Wireless as the service provider. 

August 23, 2023 – After Schumer And Gillibrand Delivered Major Federal Funding For NBRC In The Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law, Upstate NY Receives Largest NBRC Investment To Date- With Major New Funding For Long Desired Community Projects Like Expanding Childcare In Lewis County & Ogdensburg, Bringing High Speed Internet Access To Hundreds Of North Country Homes, Improving Water Infrastructure And More.

NBRC
Broadband News!

Broadband Ad Hoc Committee

  • In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic amplified the need for internet service and it became the Legislator’s mission to find a way to ensure that everyone is Lewis County had access to adequate broadband infrastructure. The Lewis County Broadband Ad Hoc Committee was formed to tackle this challenge. From education to human services, members were selected from across Lewis County to analyze data, identify solutions, and aggressively pursue funding opportunities for broadband infrastructure. As of June 2023, they have leveraged $1,000,000 in County funds, $1,500,000 in ARPA funds, and $1,010,762 in various grant funding to extend broadband accessibility to over 2,000 homes and businesses. 

  • Kevin Buckingham, Lewis County Opportunities
  • Casandra Buell, Director of Planning & Community Development
  • Michelle Capone, DANC
  • Lawrence Dolhof,  Chairman of the Board of Legislators
  • Ian Gilbert, Board of Legislators
  • Josh Leviker, Board of Legislators
  • Ryan Piche, County Manager
  • Eric Virkler, County Treasurer
  • David Wolf, DANC
  • Adam Zehr, Copenhagen Central School District

Broadband Expansion Interactive Mapping

Lewis County has been partnering with the Development Authority of the North Country (DANC) to analyze existing broadband data and collect our own to better serve Lewis County residents and make informed decisions on actions to take to expand broadband access in Lewis County.

Below is a map showing all of the parcels that were unserved at the beginning of this project. Click the image below to interact with the map.

Broadband Infrastructure Grants Received

Community Development Block Grant – CARES Act (CDBG-CV)

In July 2021, Lewis County submitted an application for funding under the Community Development Block Grant (NYS CDBG) Coronavirus Air, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES) program that is administered by the New York State Office of Community Renewal. Later that year, the County received an award of $747,790 to carry out several fixed wireless projects located in the Town of Lyonsdale, Town of Diana, and Village of Port Leyden under CDBG-CV program no. 636CVPF9-21. The main beneficiaries of this program are persons with low or moderate incomes and the project is expected to serve approximately 600 unserved households.

To check the availability of high-speed Hudson Valley Wireless internet service in your area, please visit below:

Northern Border Regional Commission – State Economic & Infrastructure Development Investment Program (NBRC-SEID)

In August of 2021, Lewis County was awarded $263,053 in Northern Border Regional Commission State Economic & Infrastructure Development Investment Program funding to complete a fixed wireless and free public wi-fi project in the Copenhagen area. Initial wireless mapping suggests that this project could provide affordable, reliable and high-speed broadband to approximately 1,173 homes and businesses covering a 10-mile radius, to include the Village of Copenhagen and surrounding rural communities that are currently underserved or has no access to broadband services.

Lewis County, with the assistance of the Development Authority of the North Country, was able to complete this project in November 2023 and enrollment is open! 

To check the availability of high-speed Hudson Valley Wireless internet service in your area or to see if you are eligible for free Hudson Valley Wireless installation and equipment through the Affordable Connectivity Program, please visit below: 

Northern Border Regional Commission – 2023 Catalyst Grant

In May 2023, Lewis County worked alongside the Development Authority of the North Country (DANC) to submit an application for funding under the new Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) Catalyst Program to complete a fixed wireless and public fiber expansion project. The application, submitted by DANC, also included broadband expansions in Jefferson County and St. Lawrence County. Fortunately, DANC received the award and is working towards servicing approximately 930 passings with a $250,000 match investment from Lewis County. The fixed wireless portion of this project will benefits households and businesses in the Towns of Greig, West Turin, Lyonsdale, Leyden, Turin, Lewis, Watson, Osceola, Montague, Martinsburg, and Constableville. Additionally, as part of this project, DANC will deploy fiber in the Towns of Denmark, Diana, Turin, and West Turin. 

Utilization of American Rescue Plan (ARPA) Funds

Spectrum Fiber Expansion

In May 2022, Lewis County entered into an agreement with Spectrum to provide the much-needed infrastructure to approximately 366 passings in the Towns of Croghan, Denmark, Greig, Lowville, and Watson. As part of this agreement, the following addresses will be served with either COAX or FIBER broadband infrastructure within 12 months from the last approved pole permit from National Grid:

Town of Denmark

  • 10100 – 10387 Old State Road
  • 10305 – 10398 Vorce Road
  • 3208 – 3618 Roberts Road
  • 4101 – 4108 Carlowden Drive
  • 3405 – 3923 Halifax Road
  • 9597 – 9804 Number Three Road
  • 10314 – 10423 Stoddard Road
  • 3182 – 3307 Fuller Road
  • 10702 – 10728 Harris Road
  • 10564 – 10587 Old State Road
  • 3636 – 3658 Vandewater Falls Road
  • 10104 – 10244 State Route 12
  • 10244 Fleming Road
  • 9616 – 10420 East Road
  • 4135 – 4152 N. Boshart Road
  • 9023 – 9226 Ridge Road
  • 9755 Railroad Street
  • 4527 – 4577 State Route 410
  • 4505 Hasar Road

Town of Croghan

12174 – 12563 Beartown Road

Town of Greig

5865 – 6570 Partridgeville Road

Town of Watson

  • 6406 – 6416 Joslyn Road
  • 6412 – 6422 Ross Road
  • 6424 – 6426 Journeys End Road
  • 8381 – 8455 Stony Lake Truck Road

Town of Lowville

  • 5006 – 5016 Phinny Road
  • 4633 – 4729 Shack Road
  • 4834 – 4862 Sharp Road
  • 7708 – 9088 East Road
  • 7849 – 7967 Ridge Road
  • 4361 – 4405 Patten Road
  • 4359 – 4550 Boshart Road
  • 8524 – 8695 State Route 26
  • 9001 Hoffman Road
  • 4481 – 4594 Arthur Road

Spectrum completed the above build out in December 2023 and high-speed internet service is now available to all of the above addresses. 

Free Public Wi-Fi Access Points

As part of a County-wide Community Development Initiative, Lewis County Legislators voted to use $370,000 of the County’s allocated ARPA funds to provide Free Public Wi-Fi Access Points throughout its many villages and hamlets.

This public/private partnership with Spectrum is the first of its kind and free wi-fi service will be available at 27 locations across the county. Locations equipped with Lewis County Free Public Wi-Fi will have the below signs posted.

Looking for information about our recent broadband expansion in the Towns of Diana and Lyonsdale? Learn more about how to see if your location is covered and how to get connected by clicking the link below.

The FCC Affordable Connectivity Program helps connect families and households to internet services at a discount. To find out if you are eligible click the link below.

View NYS’s broadband map that provides the ability to explore broadband access around the state. Enter your address to view which service providers are in your area.