Merger To Delay

Rural Broadband

COOPERSTOWN – Word on whether Otsego County will win funding for a much-hoped rural broadband project has been put on hold until at least July, Otsego Now CEO Sandy Mathes told Otsego County Board of Representatives this morning.

County Board Chair Kathy Clark, R-Otego, expressed dismay at the news: “Children who can’t access the Internet at home are at a severe disadvantage.  re we going to have to wait four more years?  That’s an entire class that will graduate from high school without this.”

As part of the Time Warner and Charter merger, New Charter will have to install line extensions to 145,000 of the 2.3 million under- and un-served homes in New York State.

But stipulations, including areas that are covered by Time Warner franchises or the federal Connect America Fund, are excluded from the first phase of the program.  “Only 56 homes in Otsego County would be eligible,” said Jim Becker, president of Middleburg Telephone Co., a partner in the county’s effort.

New Charter has 90 days to select their initial service areas, and in July, the second phase of the project will expand service to additional counties.  Governor Cuomo has announced that he would like New Charter to deliver broadband internet access statewide by 2018.

“Hopefully this will turn into better news,” said Mathes.