UPSTATE NEW YORK  — In addition to helping to eradicate mobile phone dead zones for local businesses and individuals, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced Monday of its intention to increase wireless and broadband connectivity across the 2,000-square-mile upstate watershed and water supply. 

In the watershed and water supply system region—which includes three controlled lakes, 19 reservoirs, and extensive infrastructure overseeing the water supply for half of New York State’s population—DEP is working to enhance wireless communications for operating and emergency use.

“Far too much of the watershed region remains a broadband and cellular black hole and improving wireless communications for operational and emergency purposes is a crucial need for DEP,” said DEP Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala.

As a first step in removing broadband and wireless communications dead zones throughout the eight-county watershed region in the Hudson Valley and Catskills, where New York City’s water delivery system runs, a “Request for Information” (RFI) was released outlining the intention to increase coverage. 

DEP plans to make sure that any system that is suggested and eventually implemented allows cellular and broadband common carriers to offer service to watershed communities as part of the RFI.

Simultaneously, the watershed region’s broadband connectivity is being expanded by Empire State Development’s (ESD) ConnectALL initiative, which is led by Governor Kathy Hochul. 

Schoharie and Sullivan counties have recently received grants from the initiative, and more applications for unserved areas will soon be available. 

DEP will continue to work with ConnectALL on additional opportunities to increase service in the watershed and will support these initiatives in conjunction with ESD.

In order to facilitate the deployment of wireless communications equipment, the RFI suggested that prospective vendors utilize the more than 200,000 acres and more than 100 miles of highways that New York City owns throughout the watershed region.

“This initiative to eliminate broadband and cellular dead zones in the upstate watershed region is a transformative and long-overdue step,” stated State Senator Peter Oberacker. “It will strengthen emergency response capabilities, boost economic growth, and improve the quality of life for families and small businesses. I commend the New York City DEP for leading this effort and look forward to working with providers to ensure broadband and cellular access reaches every corner of our upstate communities.”

“It is most welcome ... it should have happened sooner. We will be supporting anyone [companies] coming in,” said Sullivan County Legislative Chair, Nadia Rajsz. “Now that the money is there I’m hoping the companies will come and help us out.”