Town hires broadband marketer, installation coordinator for Dryden Fiber

The Town of Dryden is making moves as its municipal broadband project continues to gain traction.

The Dryden Town Board recently approved the hirings of a marketer and an installation coordinator for Dryden Fiber.

David Makar, a former town deputy supervisor in the 2000s, was hired as the broadband marketer. Makar, who recently held a marketing position with Instacart, will be paid $16,700 to create and execute a marketing proposal for Dryden Fiber.

“He’s a very qualified person,” said Dan Lamb, the town’s current deputy supervisor. “He’s Dryden-friendly.”

Makar, who will be in charge of public outreach and gaining interest, attempted to push forward and campaign for a broadband project when he was on the town board, but those efforts fell short.

“He’s almost come full circle [with broadband],” Lamb said.

Gleamon Technology, which Lamb described as a “vendor,” has been pegged as the installation coordinator. Led by Executive Officer Ken Gleason, the Gleamon Technology team will assist in the installation and operation of the Dryden Fiber project.

Gleamon Technology will receive an hourly rate of $110 for the work.

Lamb noted it was “always the town’s plan” to “staff up” as the infrastructure gets put into place.

“It’s the right time to make these hires because we have the infrastructure laid and we have a website taking requests for service,” Lamb said. “We’re building out the fiber, so residents can get hooked up.”

The Dryden Town Board also approved the purchase of $97,936 worth of materials for the buildout of Dryden Fiber. According to Gleason, the materials will allow broadband to expand about 112,000 feet added to the existing range of 60,000-80,000 feet.

Dryden Fiber, a $15 million project, is the first municipal broadband provider in New York state and began providing service in November. The pilot portion of the project, which covers the southwest portion of the town into Etna, is covered by $2 million in federal COVID-19 disaster relief funding, an Appalachian Regional Commission grant and bond money.

Dryden Fiber’s service offerings include these levels:

• Silver: $45 per month for up to 400 Mbps download and 400 Mbps upload
• Gold: $75 per month for up to 700 Mbps download and 700 Mbps upload
• Platinum: $90 per month for up to 1 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload

According to Lamb, more than 100 individuals have expressed interest in the service.

“We want to make sure we’re communicating with the whole town on the status of the project and when various areas will get service,” Lamb said.

Once the pilot concludes, the town will enter phase two, which will focus on the western half of the town. Phase three will cover the eastern part of the town.

Based on discussion from town officials, the Dryden Fiber project is expected to pay for itself in close to 10 years. This, however, is dependent on the town obtaining further grant funding.

“The more subscribers Dryden Fiber has, the more value can be passed along to the customers,” the Dryden Fiber website states.

Lamb mentioned that the town plans to apply next month for federal funding through the state’s ConnectALL program. ConnectALL strives to “build New York State’s digital infrastructure and connect all New Yorkers through the internet,” according to the state’s website.

It is anticipated that the state will receive $1 billion for its statewide broadband assistance program, Lamb said. The hope, Lamb added, is that the town will receive $1 million to $2 million in funding.

“We’d be in a good position for that funding,” Lamb said.

For more information, go to drydenfiber.com.

Dryden Dispatch appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com.

In brief:

Dryden High School graduation is this Friday

The Dryden High School graduation is scheduled for this Friday, June 23.

The ceremony will begin at 6 p.m. at the high school’s sports complex located at the side of the school.

Cooking in the Park begins in July

Cooking in the Park, a Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County program, begins in July.

The program, for parents with children aged eight and older, is a free six-week summer series. Participants will cook delicious and seasonal recipes, explore local parks and playgrounds, have fun and eat free food.

Cooking in the Park will be held on Fridays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at various locations, including:

• July 14 – Dryden Lake Park Pavilion, Lake Road
• July 21 – Groton Memorial Park, Pasadena Avenue
• July 28 – Montgomery Park in the Village of Dryden
• Aug. 4 – Stewart Park in Ithaca
• Aug. 11 – Groton Avenue Park in the Village of Freeville
• Aug. 18 – Groton Memorial Park, Pasadena Avenue

For questions or information on how to register for the program, email Mandy Beem-Miller at ab2529@cornell.edu.

Dates announced for Town of Dryden Summer Music Series

Dates for the Town of Dryden’s Summer Music Series were recently announced.

“Music on the Hill,” located at the Veterans of Foreign Wars building at 2272 Dryden Rd., will include the following shows:

• July 12 – Crystal Vision
• July 19 – Ghost Train
• July 26 – The Tarps
• Aug. 9 – Tailor Made
• Aug. 16 – Past My Bedtime

All shows are free to the public. Each show will begin at 6 p.m.