This week’s announcement of major satellite broadband investment across Warren, Washington, and Saratoga Counties is an important step forward. For some residents who have struggled with little or no service, this may bring connectivity much faster than traditional buildouts provided carriers decide to execute solutions in these areas.
That matters. But for rural, mountainous regions like the Adirondacks, it’s important to be clear about what this does. and what it doesn’t.
This funding helps address coverage and is another potential tool with resources attached. It does not fully solve for reliability, capacity, affordability, or long-term economic competitiveness.
Satellite-based solutions like LEO can face real challenges in our region:
Terrain and tree cover can impact signal consistency.
Performance can vary during peak tourism periods when demand is highest
Upfront equipment and installation costs can be a barrier for households
In some cases, additional installation (poles, mounting, extended connections) may be needed to achieve a reliable signal
At the same time, how we define “served” matters.
If areas are considered served based on availability alone, they may not qualify for future investment. even if the service is not sufficient for small businesses, remote workers, or year-round residents.
That’s a risk for rural communities.
At EDC Warren County, we view this as part of an ongoing broader strategy.
Satellite has always had a role, especially for the most remote locations.
But for many of our communities, a hybrid approach, combining fiber and fixed wireless offers a more durable, scalable path forward.
Our focus remains on ensuring that every community has access not just to internet, but to reliable, affordable, and future-ready connectivity that supports workforce, housing, and economic growth.
This is progress and another step in our decade plus process do far.
We will together along with the North Country Broadband Alliance continue to push for connectivity as a critical aspect of our current and future infrastructure.
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