Butternuts Mobile Innovation Pilot Launches with State Backing to Bridge Rural Connectivity Gaps in Otsego County

OTSEGO COUNTY, New York [10-9-2025] – The Mohawk Valley Economic Development District, Inc. (MVEDD), Otsego County, and Vernonburg Group are proud to announce the launch of the Butternuts Neutral Host Mobile Tower Pilot Project, a groundbreaking rural wireless infrastructure initiative backed by Governor Kathy Hochul’s Connectivity Innovation Mobile Service Grant Program administered by Empire State Development’s ConnectALL office.

This pilot project will expand mobile service and broadband access in the Town of Butternuts, an unserved area of Otsego County. The project was awarded $843,357 through ConnectALL and is one of four across the state selected to receive funding, as part of New York’s commitment to closing New York’s rural digital divide.

A First-of-Its-Kind Rural Deployment in Otsego County

The initiative is led by MVEDD, which serves as the technical lead and integrator, in partnership with Otsego County and the Vernonburg Group. The project will deliver shared, multi-operator mobile coverage from a new county-owned E-911 public safety tower. Using a neutral-host architecture, this model will allow multiple mobile operators to share a single set of radio infrastructure, reducing costs, improving public safety, and expanding connectivity access in some of the county’s most rural communities.

“Reliable mobile service and broadband access are essential infrastructure for New Yorkers in every corner of the state,” said Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight.  “Through Governor Hochul’s ConnectALL Mobile Innovation Grant Program, we’re empowering communities across Otsego County and beyond to lead with innovation and collaboration—expanding connectivity, strengthening public safety, and creating models that can be replicated statewide. This pilot demonstrates how state investment and local leadership can work together to close the digital divide and deliver meaningful impact for rural residents and businesses.”

“Expanding rural connectivity requires collaboration, innovation, and local leadership. This pilot brings together all three,” explained Stephen Smith, Executive Director of MVEDD. “MVEDD is proud to pioneer a model that empowers our communities and creates a sustainable pathway to mobile and broadband access where it’s needed most. We extend a thank you to Otsego County’s Planning Department, E-911 team, and the Vernonburg Group for their support.”

“This project is about proving what’s possible when we rethink how wireless infrastructure and services could be successfully deployed in underserved communities across rural America. By building an open, shared platform on public assets, we’re not just improving coverage in Butternuts, we’re piloting a model that might be replicated in unserved communities across the country,” said Paul Garnett, CEO of Vernonburg Group.

Project Highlights

• Coverage Expansion: Targeting underserved areas in the Butternut Valley, including Gilbertsville, Morris, and surrounding corridors with JMA macrocell radios and Tarana fixed wireless gear.
• Community Ownership: Designed for local governance and future operator handoff to a local ISP, municipality, or electric co-op.
• Innovation Model: Builds a replicable package of engineering tools, RFP templates, and compliance documentation for use by other counties.
• Public Safety + Broadband: Leverages the E-911 tower for both emergency communications and broadband service.

Timeline & Impact

The project is currently in the planning and procurement phase, with infrastructure deployment set for 2026. Upon activation, up to 200 households and small businesses are expected to be reachable with mobile and fixed wireless service. In parallel, MVEDD and Vernonburg Group will produce a comprehensive replication toolkit for New York State and national rural broadband partners.

Governor Hochul’s announcement underscored the broader importance of these investments, as “These projects will not only improve mobile service but also create scalable models for future expansions in other underserved areas of the state.”

About the Partners

Mohawk Valley Economic Development District, Inc. (MVEDD) is a regional development agency advancing infrastructure, innovation, and resiliency across Fulton, Herkimer, Montgomery, Oneida, Otsego and Schoharie Counties. As grant recipient, MVEDD will lead all compliance and procurement processes. For more information on MVEDD’s mission and ongoing projects, visit their website at mvedd.org.

Vernonburg Group is a full-service consulting firm dedicated to closing the global digital divide. Vernonburg Group works with companies, governments, non-profits, and other organizations that have a vested interest in seeing billions more people and things connected to the Internet.  Vernonburg Group works with clients to design and implement data-driven digital opportunity programs, assess broadband project feasibility, secure funding, and shape public policy. Vernonburg believes that with the right technologies, policies, and partnerships affordable broadband access—and the opportunities it enables—can be made universal. For more information on the Otsego County Broadband Expansion Initiative, visit otsegocountyny.gov/broadband.php.

Empire State Development is New York’s chief economic development agency, and promotes business growth, job creation, and greater economic opportunity throughout the state. With offices in each of the state’s 10 regions, ESD oversees the Regional Economic Development Councils, supports broadband equity through the ConnectALL office, and is growing the workforce of tomorrow through the Office of Strategic Workforce Development. The agency engages with emerging and next generation industries like clean energy and semiconductor manufacturing looking to grow in New York State, operates a network of assistance centers to help small businesses grow and succeed, and promotes the state’s world class tourism destinations through I LOVE NY. For more information, please visit esd.ny.gov, and connect with ESD on LinkedIn, Facebook and X.