Stanley seeks expansion of broadband service
The Shandaken town Supervisor’s goals for 2019 include expanding broadband cable and internet service.
Shandaken town Supervisor Robert Stanley sees 2019 as the year to work on getting broadband cable and internet service to the remaining 25 percent of town residents who appear to be outside the profit margin for major carriers.
In a telephone interview last week, Stanley said efforts are underway to persuade Margaretville Telephone Co. to help get highspeed internet service to the town’s rural nooks and crannies.
“Basically, it’s the hollows, and if you go back to the previous franchise agreement with Time-Warner, there is a limitation on how many homes a mile they’ll connect,” he said.
“So when you get into the really rural dead-end roads, you’ll find the cable service just stops,” Stanley said. “Margaretville Telephone Co. received an award from the state to expand their service to provide some services to those homes. So we have ... about 40 homes or so that are going to receive internet capabilities, if not full-on cable service.”
Stanley said the town is not anticipating any major projects this year, but will be looking to show that people have found a relationship with the Catskill Mountains by bringing their talent to the community. Or, at least arrive with a willingness to enjoy the talents of others during special events like the Phoenicia Festival of the Voice, which will have its 10th series from Aug. 2-4.
“I really think it helps provide a deeper cultural identity for the town,” he said.
“Before the Festival of the Voice, there were people who came here for hiking and recreational activities, but I think the Festival of the Voice really highlighted arts in our town,” Stanley said. “Being that we’re so closely associated with Woodstock, I think that, at times, we get homogenized into their arts scene . ... What started the festival was these opera stars had a fundraiser for one of our local parks, and just fell in love with just the natural acoustics of the park
in Phoenicia.”
Among attractions that have proven to be a tourist draw is Belleayre Ski Center, which has trails open from late fall to early spring, and a beach with picnic areas and hiking trails during the summer.
“They have expanded to include mountain biking, so they are trying to make it a year-round destination,” Stanley said. “The Belleayre Conservancy not having concerts is obviously disheartening to us, but I understand there are plans for them to come in another reincarnation at the Big Indian Park.”
Stanley said he is also encouraged by the use of the former Ulster & Delaware Railroad right of way by Rail Explorers, which rents
out pedal-powered vehicles that run along the tracks. The company was brought in by Ulster County after it ended the Catskill Mountain Railroad’s lease. The railroad, which had previously run tourist trains between Mount Pleasant and Phoenicia, now operates trains from Kingston Plaza in the city of Kingston to a site off state Route 28 in the town of Ulster.
“We were upset to lose the train as a tourist operation here, but the rail bikes have been a nice plus and they’ve brought quite a few people here,” he said. “I know people have enjoyed it. I’ve been on it myself. It’s a nice ride ... and a nice introduction to our area for people to ride along the rail and ride along the Esopus Creek.”