Local broadband provider outlines plan to use town tank and county sites to expand internet access

A North Shore Networks representative told the Barre Town Board that the company is proposing to use county-owned infrastructure to host broadband equipment and extend affordable internet service across Orleans County. The presenter said the state-funded project would build roughly 21 network sites, with town-owned water tanks and poles used as key mounting points, and that mounts and some infrastructure would be gifted to the town to enable colocation by multiple carriers. "It's looking for it was a 100% grant funded from the state of New York," the presenter said.

Board members pressed the presenter on technical and permitting details, including tower placement on the water tank, the expected height of equipment above the tank, potential FAA/lighting requirements and how power would be provided. The presenter said the equipment pipes are roughly eight feet and will "sit a little bit higher than the tank top itself" and that, if needed, the project could run poles back to the site and set a transformer at the gate. The board agreed to review the construction drawing that had been emailed prior to the meeting and to invite the presenter to a follow-up workshop to resolve outstanding logistics and clarify any permitting or power upgrades needed.