We’ve all experienced it: one-bar cell signals, calls that suddenly drop, or driving through “dead zones” without access to data.  And it’s not just inconvenient lack of coverage or dropped calls that we have to deal with. Thousands of residents live in areas where they don’t have access to reliable high-speed internet at home.

North Country economic growth will go hand in hand with expanding data access.  It’s one of the most foundational aspects to growing our economy. We will catch up to the rest of the country by getting broadband access up to date.  In many ways, we’re being left behind.

But, we can fix this!

I spoke with Kevin Lynch, COO of Nicholville Telephone Company and Slic Network Solutions.  They are one company providing greater connectivity across the North Country, with a focus on expanding the fiber optic network in the North Country.  He spoke with me about how wireless and wired coverage go hand in hand, and the future of fiber and data access in the North Country. Listen to our podcast here, with the full transcript below.