NY Telecoms to Build Fiber Optic Network

ALBANY, N.Y., May 3 -- Thirteen independent New York telecommunications companies have formed a consortium to bring high-speed voice, video and data network services to underserved communities outside New York City, according to the The Business Review, a weekly Albany-area newspaper.

The consortium, the Empire State Independent Network LLC, based in Albany, plans to build a state-of-the-art fiber optic transport network through upstate New York.

Larry Drake, vice president of operations and technology at Warwick Valley Telephone Co. and EISN's chairman of the board of managers, told the paper that ESIN will close the gap between technology "haves and have-nots" in the state.

The network will consist of about 555 miles of existing fiber belonging to the member companies, about 1253 miles of third-party leased fiber and about 350 miles of newly constructed facilities. The consortium expects to serve 54 communities.

For more information, visit: www.wvtc.com