Success Story - Three County 400 Mile System

St. Lawrence, Jefferson and Lewis Counties, Developmental Authority of North Country (DANC) – Watertown, NY.

ECC Technologies is the project developer for the three county, 400 plus mile system.  ECC worked hand in hand with the DANC team to develop and secure a regional vision for the creation of a community owned and managed fiber-optic backbone.  Our services included developing the business plan, marketing strategy, funding models, utility agreements, construction specifications, and path selection for the three county system.  We worked with community leaders on the development of programs to support education and corporate participation of the system, and worked with local and international telecommunications companies to build partnerships and opportunities for expansion and use of the network beyond the three county area and into Canada.

ECC Technologies worked with DANC staff members, government officials and agencies to secure grants, low interest loans, and general support for this system. We developed pricing guidelines and summaries of the operational costs required to maintain and operate the system long term.  During the project development, several high priority projects of smaller magnitude were developed and implemented.  These projects include the development of networks to support immediate needs for healthcare, job retention, telecommunications competition, public safety, and education.  ECC’s scope and services on these smaller projects included design, development, and construction management for the duration of these projects which totaled several million dollars.

The entire project scope comprised of hundreds of miles of aerial, underground, and directional boring methods. Although the majority of the long haul fiber backbone was contracted as a design build service, ECC played a leadership role in the design, development, and project management of the overall project.