MONTICELLO – The spring thaw is pushing Sullivan County’s $29.9 Million Broadband project forward, as reported by the Information Technology Services Commissioner Lorne Green to Legislators during April 16’s Management and Budget Meeting.

“With the weather breaking, the goal and objective is for them to be putting in about a mile, or more if possible, of conduit per working day,” Green said.

Green said they’ve installed 68.3 miles of conduit, 5.6 miles of fiber, and added that 0.8 miles is spliced, which means that two fiber optic cables have been joined together to create a continuous optical path. Green’s team is working diligently to finish the installation of conduit and fiber by December 31. 

The countywide fiber-optic internet project, made possible through a partnership with Archtop Fiber and funded by Empire State Development’s ConnectALL Program, is projected to bring high speed internet capability to 22,000 homes and businesses through a 253-mile network of fiber optic cable connected by 12 cellular towers. Green said two of these towers are already operational and connected to Archtop Fiber’s offices in Kingston.

Green said the Elk Point tower just outside of Liberty and the tower at the Sheriff’s Office in Monticello are connected to the internet: “They can see it, they can communicate with it, so that part’s done,” Green said. “They’re working on scheduling out the remaining 10 towers.” 

Once the base infrastructure on all 12 towers is connected to the network, Greene said the next step is to finalize contracts for the installation of fixed wireless access points to the antenna of each tower. A county press release anticipated that service would launch in May in Liberty and expand outward until completion by the end of the year.

Greene also announced the launch of connectsullivan.com, a new website that enables residents to follow the project’s progress and check eligibility based on their location. 

“Connectsullivan.com is up and running,” said Green. “You can see whether or not you’ll be eligible for service under this particular grant program.” The website’s interactive map also allows users to explore the scope and timeline of fiber installation, view all 12 wireless towers, and see wireless coverage in their area.

“Sullivan County faces unique challenges due to its rural, mountainous terrain, low population density and status, as the most distressed of the seven counties represented by the Hudson Valley Regional Council that have long deterred broadband deployment in the County,” said Green in the press release. “This initiative reverses that trend for many of the unserved homes in the county and creates new opportunities in health, education and economic well-being.”