County says wireless broadband network nearing completion
Press Release, Orleans County government
Orleans County’s county-wide broadband network is nearly finished. Construction is complete on 14 of the network’s 21 sites, located in and around Medina, Albion, Lyndonville, Shelby, Ridgeway, Gaines, Carlton and Kendall.
The remaining seven sites are scheduled for completion by the end of 2026. When complete, the network will reach thousands of homes, farms and businesses in every town across Orleans County.
The network is owned by Orleans County and funded by an $11.56 million grant awarded to the county by New York State through the ConnectALL Municipal Infrastructure Program. North Shore Networks (NSN), a locally owned internet provider based in Medina, is designing, building, and operating the network under an agreement with the county.
“From the start, the goal was that every part of Orleans County should have reliable, affordable internet, not just the areas that were easy to reach,” said Orleans County Legislature Chairman Lynne M. Johnson. “We are close to the finish line. Fourteen sites are already built, and the rest of the county will follow in the next few months.”
The network builds on the wireless internet initiative the county launched in 2021. Its 21 sites include 15 existing towers, seven of them county-owned, along with three new towers and three grain elevators hosted by local family farms.
“Our crews are focused and working hard on finishing the last seven sites this year,” said Duston Ellis, co-founder of North Shore Networks (NSN). “We are grateful to the county and to the three family farms that have partnered with us to make this possible for the community.”
The network uses the latest generation of fixed wireless technology and can deliver speeds of 500 Mbps and higher, well beyond what earlier wireless service could offer. Service is affordable, with no contracts, no data caps, no taxes, and no hidden fees. Residents and businesses interested in service should visit www.ConnectNSN.com and submit their information. NSN will follow up as soon as service is available at their address.
Orleans Community Connects, a local non-profit organization, collaborates with Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) to expand digital skills education opportunities for Orleans County residents. CCE offers free help for residents, including group classes and one-on-one support. Through this partnership, both organizations work to ensure community members have the knowledge, confidence, and support to use technology effectively in their daily lives.
“Access is only the first step,” said Nyla Gaylord, executive director of Orleans Community Connects. “Anyone who wants help with Digital Skills Education or connecting devices to the internet can call 585-798-4265 x 146 and speak with Abigail.”
This deployment of internet service is supported by a grant awarded to Orleans County by New York State through the ConnectALL program.
About Orleans Community Connects
Orleans Community Connects is a local, independent nonprofit dedicated to strengthening Orleans County by connecting people, resources, and organizations to address challenges that impact residents. With deep roots in Orleans County, we have proudly served our community for decades. As our work has grown and evolved, our name now reflects our role today—while our commitment to caring for our neighbors and strengthening the community remains unwavering.
About North Shore Networks
North Shore Networks (NSN), founded in 2022, is a locally owned internet service provider based in Medina, New York. Learn more at www.ConnectNSN.com.
