Internet growth solicited

CANTON — The St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce will offer $60,000 in three target areas along Route 37 to encourage broadband Internet providers to expand service.

The chamber on Friday issued a request for proposals to 10 community and regional Internet providers for the first phase of its Broadband Initiative, fueled by a $196,000 grant from former U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

The chamber's initial focus is three areas along Route 37 where high-speed Internet service is sparse or not available. The Morristown area is one, encompassing the village, Morristown Center to Black Lake, east to Lost Village Road, north to Route 37, to the west of Jacques Cartier State Park through Brier Hill to Cedars.

The second area is Brasher Falls, north to Massena, east to Helena and west to Raymondville.

The area between Waddington and Norfolk is also targeted, starting at Big Sucker Brook, south past Madrid-Waddington Central School to the Potsdam town line, east to Main Street in Norfolk, north on Route 56 through Raymondville headed up to Route 37B and Route 37.

The project's goal is to link residents and businesses in those communities with providers hooking into the Development Authority of the North Country's fiber-optics line.

The chamber will offer $60,000 in each area to Internet companies willing to match that investment to expand high-speed service.

"It's an incentive grant," said Chamber Executive Director Patricia L. McKeown. "If they have the funds to expand, they'll get subscribers."

Ms. McKeown said many companies hesitate to expand service if there is a chance they will not profit from their investment.

Few people means small profit, and some communities don't have enough population to prompt providers to expand service. Offering $60,000 to aid expansion could help change their minds, Ms. McKeown said.

"Local providers have everything to gain," she said. "We're giving them the opportunity to provide more service."

David M. Wolf, general manager of DANC's Open Access Telecommunications Network Division, said without high-speed access, these communities have no chance of attracting new businesses.

The deadline for bids is March 13. Ms. McKeown said the chamber hopes to have service in place by November.