BY JEFF CHUDZINSKI

North Country This Week

CANTON — St. Lawrence County legislators are pushing an expansion of broadband services throughout the county, calling on the Development Authority of the North County (DANC) to be the catalyst for expansion.

Officials called for committing matching funds to the Northern Border Regional Commission in the resolution.  

Officials say the Northern Border Regional Commission “is a partnership between the federal government and the states of Maine, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont whose mission it is to fund economic development and infrastructure projects through the designated counties in its four state service area.”

Legislators also called upon BOCES and the St. Lawrence County IDA to take action during a special board meeting on May 22.

Officials previously authorized accepting the ARPA Committee recommendation for the use of American Rescue Plan Act funds to expand broadband.

A total of $3 million was allocated for broadband development and installation throughout the county with the previous resolution, which was passed during a full board meeting on May 2.

Officials also took action recently to sign contracts to fund broadband development and installation for sixteen projects from two internet service providers.

That move would potentially provide high speed internet service too 610 residence in the county, according to the resolution.

According to officials, DANC aims to serve common interests between Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties and “owns and operates a number of revenue-based infrastructure facilities including an extensive fiber optic network.”

Currently, DANC is preparing a regional application for the expansion of broadband infrastructure, which would include St. Lawrence County.

That application would require matching funds, officials say.

In the resolution, legislators say the county will commit $250,000in local funds as a portion of the required matching funds.