Schoharie County Celebrates Start of High-Speed Internet Project - To be Completed by Dec. 31, 2026

By David Avitabile

SCHOHARIE – State, county, and local officials, along with project partners Tuesday celebrated the beginning of a $33.6 million project to bring Broadband, high-speed Internet, to underserved parts of the county.

"This is about safety and security in our county, a very rural county," said State Assemblyman Chris Tague.

"People in Schoharie County no longer have to drive four miles down the road to call 911. That's what this is all about."

The project is to be completed by the end of next year and then turned over to MidTel for service.

Project officials said that construction began on October 6 and thus far, 12 to 13 miles of conduit has been buried on roads between Sharon Springs and Richmondville. When the construction is complete, about 300 miles of conduit will be buried bringing high-speed Internet to more than 4,000 households. When the project is done, it will bring high-speed Internet to students, farmers, businesses, and others all over the county.

"Access to high-speed Internet is no longer a luxury, it is a necessity," Assemblyman Tague added.

SUNY Cobleskill President Dr. Marion Terenzio added, "It's a lifeline. Students, farmers, seniors all need it. Broadband is rural revitalization in action."

Assemblyman Tague noted the local firms working on the project. It is important that MidTel is involved."

"People we know and trust are doing this project."

At a press conference held at Schoharie Valley Farms Tuesday morning, Bill Federice, the chairman of the Schoharie County Board of Supervisors, added, "We have a really good team assembled here. We have some very aggressive deadlines. We are working along.

"It's aggressive but we have to work together to get across the finish line," which is December 31, 2026, Mr. Federice said.

MidTel's Jim Becker thanked the county for its decision to move forward.

"It was huge leap of faith," Mr. Beker said.

Over the last 12 to 14 years, $60 million has been invested in the county in broadband, he noted.

"This project is going to make it real. We are honored to be involved in this project.

The Broadband is expandable in the future and the conduit in the ground will not have to be dug up to make upgrades. Upgrades will be easy and roads will not have to be disturbed, said representatives of New York State ConnectALL Office and project partners.

"Today is the beginning of a new chapter in Schoharie County," Assemblyman Tague said. "Now let's get this project started."