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News & Updates
Margaretville Telephone Company Completes Transition to Employee Ownership
The Margaretville Telephone Company (MTC) has completed its transition to 100% employee-ownership making it the first regulated utility in the State to achieve this status. The closing of the transaction on June 7th follows five generations of Birdsall / Roadman family ownership dating back to the founding of the company in 1916. The Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) has been the primary retirement vehicle for MTC employees since its inception in 1985. In 2018, the company completed a secondary phase of the ownership transition with the ESOP gaining a majority ownership share of the company at that time. The closing on June 7th culminates a long-term, multi-year plan to complete the transition to 100% employee ownership. Final regulatory approval was granted by the NYS Department of Public Service in April.
MTC announces new funding to address broadband affordability
MTC announces a year-long extension of the company’s voluntary funding contribution to the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) offering additional benefits to eligible participants.
The Affordable Connectivity Program is an FCC benefit program that helps ensure that households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare, and more. The program was initiated during the height of the Covid-19 Pandemic offering a $50 per month broadband discount to eligible households. Since the ACP was initially set up with a limited federal dollar allocation, the program benefit per household was reduced to $30 per month in 2022. As a result of this benefit reduction, MTC announced that it would continue providing eligible customers with the $50 per month discount by contributing a $20 subsidy to ensure that the qualifying households in our community continue to have access to critical broadband services.
Effective April 1, 2023, MTC announced that it will increase the company contribution to the ACP eligible customers within the MTC service area to $25 per month (total $55 per month benefit) and extend the subsidy benefit period through March of 2024.
Additional information regarding the ACP Program along with its eligibility requirements can be found on the MTC Website at https://www.mtctelcom.com/acp-lifeline-discount
MTC Announces New Broadband Expansion Projects
The Margaretville Telephone Company (MTC) has announced plans to extend broadband services to additional unserved and underserved addresses in the Central Catskill’s region. MTC has identified 220 unserved and 160 underserved addresses located adjacent to existing MTC service areas which remain without access to adequate broadband services.
These addresses were identified using MTC engineering data along with feedback from the Federal and State broadband surveys / mapping initiatives. MTC anticipates extending over 30-miles of new Fiber-to-the-Home facilities to reach these unserved locations in construction phases over the next two years. See More HERE!
MTC Is Commited To Community
# StrongerTogether
CatskillsAir Program Highlights
Friday Night (10/20)
6:00PM – CatskillsAir News – the latest news from the Delaware County Region with Lori Fairbairn and the weekend weather forecast.
6:30PM – Mostly Folk with Artie Martello – Artie talks with Colm Gavin, a singer songwriter from Dublin Ireland. A number of popular Irish Country Artists have recorded versions of Colm’s songs. Irish Country sensation Claudia Buckley had a chart topping hit with Colm’s song Honey Bee, it ultimately became her first song to break the top 10 charts in the UK.
7:00PM – CatskillsAir News – the latest news from the Delaware County Region with Lori Fairbairn and the weekend weather forecast.
7:30PM – Focus on the Arts – Elizabeth Mami talks with R.Nemo Hills, a well-traveled adventurer, skilled writer and poet, expressing life and contentment in his words of grace and beauty.
8:00PM – CatskillsAir News – the latest news from the Delaware County Region with Lori Fairbairn and the weekend weather forecast.
8:30PM – The Sonny Rock Show – Sonny visits the shop of Ron Stetkewicz, who is not only a musician but creates miniature art.
Saturday Night (10/21)
6:00PM – CatskillsAir News – the latest news from the Delaware County Region with Lori Fairbairn and the weekend weather forecast.
6:30PM – The Hiker Trash Husbands. Join the hike as Jeff bushwacks his way up Rusk and East Rusk Mountain in the Catskills.
7:00PM – CatskillsAir News – the latest news from the Delaware County Region with Lori Fairbairn and the weekend weather forecast.
7:30PM – Pull Tab Guinness World Record – A short documentary by Kelsey Riordan about Halcottsville’s resident and artist, Sharon Suess and how the community all helped her on the day she made it into the record book.
8:00PM – CatskillsAir News – the latest news from the Delaware County Region with Lori Fairbairn and the weekend weather forecast.
8:30PM – WARK Community Television Archives – Micheal Finberg talks with a Catskill Ice climber. Then they find some ice and learn some technique (Airdate Early 80s)
Sunday Night (10/22)
6:00PM – CatskillsAir News – the latest news from the Delaware County Region with Lori Fairbairn and the weekend weather forecast.
6:30PM – WARK Community Television Archives – The Dictionary Game (Episode 3). Michael Finberg hosts two teams of four as they try to stump each other with “trick definitions”. One of the four definitions is correct Tune in for the fun!
7:00PM – CatskillsAir News – the latest news from the Delaware County Region with Lori Fairbairn and the weekend weather forecast.
7:30PM – Focus on the Arts – Elizabeth Mami talks Chelsea Goodwin, Community activist, performer and DJ of In Goth We Trust on WIOX radio, Roxbury.
8:00PM – CatskillsAir News – the latest news from the Delaware County Region with Lori Fairbairn and the weekend weather forecast.
8:30PM – Pull Tab Guinness World Record – A short documentary by Kelsey Riordan about Halcottsville’s resident and artist, Sharon Suess and how the community all helped her on the day she made it into the record book.
Monday Night (10/23)
6:00PM – CatskillsAir News – the latest news from the Delaware County Region with Lori Fairbairn and the weekly weather forecast.
6:30PM – Downstaters – A comedy web series about two New Yorkers who leave big city life for the Catskills. Jess & Beth view things a little differently as they adjust to small town living.
7:00PM – CatskillsAir News – the latest news from the Delaware County Region with Lori Fairbairn and the weekly weather forecast.
7:30PM – Focus on the Arts – Elizabeth Mami talks to Peter Benedetti. Peter Benedetti is a Brooklyn based multimedia fine artist who also specializes in multiple forms of digital media. As a prolific painter, he has exhibited his work in a number of galleries throughout the country.
8:00PM – CatskillsAir News – the latest news from the Delaware County Region with Lori Fairbairn and the weekly weather forecast.
8:30PM – Mostly Folk with Artie Martello – Artie talks with Maura and Pete Kennedy who perform as a duo called, The Kennedys. They are recognized for their harmonies and instrumental prowess, blending elements of country music, bluegrass, Western swing and janglepop.
Tuesday Night (10/24)
6:00PM – CatskillsAir News – the latest news from the Delaware County Region with Lori Fairbairn and the weekly weather forecast.
6:30PM – WARK Community Television Archives – The Dictionary Game (Episode 3). Michael Finberg hosts two teams of four as they try to stump each other with “trick definitions”. One of the four definitions is correct Tune in for the fun!
7:00PM – CatskillsAir News – the latest news from the Delaware County Region with Lori Fairbairn and the weekly weather forecast.
7:30PM – The Hiker Trash Husbands. Join the hike as Jeff bushwacks his way up Rusk and East Rusk Mountain in the Catskills.
8:00PM CatskillsAir News – the latest news from the Delaware County Region with Lori Fairbairn and the weekly weather forecast.
8:30PM – Bearsville Theater – Jezz Harkin visits The Bearsville Theater and talks with Lizzie Vann, the owner. Lizzie also takes Jezz on a tour of the theater.
Wednesday Night (10/25)
6:00PM – CatskillsAir News – the latest news from the Delaware County Region with Lori Fairbairn and the weekly weather forecast.
6:30PM – Grocholl Homestead – A new episode from Ashton as she teaches us about Crocheting.
7:00PM – CatskillsAir News – the latest news from the Delaware County Region with Lori Fairbairn and the weekly weather forecast.
7:30PM – Chamber Connects – The Delaware County Chamber of Commerce. Ray Pucci talks with NYS Cannabis Control Board member Jen Metzger discusses the work accomplished by the Office of Cannabis Management and the timeline for future action.
8:00PM – CatskillsAir News – the latest news from the Delaware County Region with Lori Fairbairn and the weekly weather forecast.
8:30PM – The Sonny Rock Show – Sonny talks with Harvey Sorgen. Harvey is a renowned drummer and percussionist who spends time in Woodstock. Harvey is also a composer and educator.
Thursday Night (10/26)
6:00PM – CatskillsAir News – the latest news from the Delaware County Region with Lori Fairbairn and the weekly weather forecast.
6:30PM – Focus on the Arts – Elizabeth Mami talks to Gary Mayer. Gary abstract and figurative artist speaks about the new show at ArtUp in Margaretville and the Bill Lynch Documentery that is receiving wonderful reviews.
7:00PM – CatskillsAir News – the latest news from the Delaware County Region with Lori Fairbairn and the weekly weather forecast.
7:30PM – WARK Community Television Archives – Tune in and watch Dance Effects, a dance show that features local artists and hits of the 80s (Airdate Early 80s).
8:00PM – CatskillsAir News – the latest news from the Delaware County Region with Lori Fairbairn and the weekly weather forecast.
8:30PM – Mostly Folk with Artie Martello – Artie talks with Si Kahn. Si has worked for over 45 years as a civil rights, labor and community organizer and musician.