26 West Main Street, PO Box 69, Mohawk, New York 13407
Mobile Connectivity for Butternuts, Otsego County
The Butternuts Mobile Connectivity Project is being funded through the ConnectALL Connectivity Innovation–Mobile Service program. This project will bring together local and regional partners to improve cell service in Butternuts, a rural community in Otsego County. By adding shared equipment to a county-owned E911 tower, multiple mobile carriers will be able to expand coverage into the Butternuts Valley where they have had little to no reliable service. The project has a fixed wireless technology component as well. With support from MVEDD, Otsego County, and other partners, this effort will help residents, businesses, and first responders stay better connected.
ConnectALL Connectivity Innovation – Mobile Service
In September 2025, Empire State Development announced $5.2 million in mobile service grants. These projects will expand mobile service, close coverage gaps, and create replicable models for future deployments across New York State. MVEDD is proud to be a part of this inaugural list of awardees, furthering innovation in mobile connectivity.
- Butternuts Neutral Host Mobile Tower Pilot Project (Otsego County) – $843,357: Deploys neutral-host equipment on a county owned tower to extend multi-operator service in a rural area with little to no coverage.
- Lake George and Glens Falls Open Access Mobile Expansion (Warren County) – $1,996,408: Installs decentralized mobile broadband access via 139 community-owned nodes to improve connectivity during peak tourism seasons.
- City of Schenectady Mobile Service Project (Schenectady County) – $1,627,430: Establishes city-wide open access Wi-Fi to reduce network strain, boost digital inclusion, and support over 4,000 low- and moderate-income residents.
- Mill Neck Manor School for the Deaf Connectivity Project (Nassau County) – $731,192: Builds a multi-technology distributed antenna system to enhance accessibility and expand mobile coverage for students on campus.
MVEDD was awarded $843,357 for our Butternuts Neutral Host Tower Project.
Funding for this project was made possible through the Mobile Service Innovation Grant offered by NYS ConnectALL.
The Butternuts Project Team
