Adirondack cell towers activated

PHOTOGRAPHER: Stephen Williams

AT&T has activated eight new cell tower sites in the Adirondack Park, bringing coverage to the east side of Lake George and other underserved areas, company officials said this week.

The company, one of several looking to expand cellular communications signals in the Adirondacks, has new service around Lake George, along the Northway, and in rural Fulton County.

“This area of the Adirondacks had little or no cellular service, which created concerns from a convenience and safety standpoint,” said Arthur Borin, president of the Huletts Landing Volunteer Fire Company on the east side of Lake George.

The new sites include towers in Hulett’s Landing and Hague, to serve northern Lake George, and Pilot Knob, which reaches part of Fort Ann and southern Lake George.

Along the Northway, there are new sites at Bolton near Northway Exit 24, and Pottersville between exits 25 and 26. There is also a new tower in Johnsburg, along Route 28 on the route to the Gore Mountain ski area.

In Fulton County, new sites are in Caroga Lake/Canada Lake; along Routes 10 and 29A; and in Northville.

AT&T officials said there were also mobile broadband upgrades to existing towers in Lake Placid, Lyons Falls, Mineville, Nicholville, North Elba, Old Forge, Port Henry/Moriah, Rattlesnake Mountain, Saranac Lake and Whiteface Mountain.

“Adirondack Park is a critical part of the Empire State and AT&T will continue to look for new opportunities in the region,” said Robert Holliday, AT&T’s vice president and general manager Upstate New York.

State Sen. Betty Little, R-Queensbury, has been a leading proponent of increased cell coverage in the Adirondacks, for public safety and as vital to the region’s economic development.

“This kind of investment is critical to keeping New York competitive,” she said.

The Adirondack improvements are included in $200 million AT&T says it invested in New York in the first half of 2011.

“We’re working to bring wireless coverage to rural areas like Adirondack Park throughout New York state,” said Amy Hines Kramer, AT&T regional vice president of external affairs.