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Newton Falls awaits services
NEWTON FALLS, Oct 15, 2009 (Watertown Daily Times - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
Newton Falls Fine Paper Co. is enjoying improved telecommunications via the Development Authority of the North Country's fiber-optics line, but hamlet residents are still waiting for improved Internet and phone service.
"We're much more capable of conducting day-to-day business than we were before," said Donald H. Schnackel, the paper mill's vice president of finance and administration. "Before installing the fiber-optic cable, we had old-style copper lines from Route 3, and those lines were constantly breaking down, so we were losing telephone and Internet service. Now, our down time has basically dropped to zero."
Mr. Schnackel said the company has gotten telecom service over the fiber line since May, with Westelcom as the mill's primary service provider.
"The one part of the original plan that's not done is the extension to the community," said Raymond H. Fountain, St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency chief executive officer.
A state grant to help DANC extend its fiber line to the hamlet was reduced last year from $100,000 to $60,000. Mr. Fountain said the reduced funding probably has little to do with the delay in residential service.
"We made commitments between the IDA and DANC that we would make sure it got done," he said. "The shortfall wasn't so much that we felt like we couldn't find the money to do it."
David M. Wolf, DANC's Open Access Telecommunications Network manager, could not be reached Wednesday.
Clifton Supervisor Robert L. Snider said some providers are considering the hamlet, but they are gauging residents' interest in service before committing. He declined to name which service providers are surveying residents.
"Hopefully we'll get enough positive results to get a company interested," Mr. Snider said. "A year ago, I would have thought we'd have it by now, and I'd like to hope that within another year we do. I'm hoping it will happen within months."
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to http://www.watertowndailytimes.com. Copyright (c) 2009, Watertown Daily
Times, N.Y. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints,
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