Telecom | Customer spotlight

Managing a middle-mile fiber network in northern New York

The Development Authority of the North Country (DANC) is a regional public authority in northern New York. In addition to managing water systems and providing other municipal services, DANC operates a middle-mile fiber network that supports broadband, public services, and economic development.


Originally built to connect schools across the North Country, DANC’s Open Access Telecom Network (OATN) has become critical to regional connectivity. Since 2003, it has grown to over 2,100 miles of carrier-class fiber and 32 central offices, linking rural communities to major carrier hubs in Syracuse, Albany, and New York City.

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DANC Logo

Company: Development Authority of the North Country

Industry: Telecom | Utilities

Location: New York, USA

Products used: 3-GIS | Web

Key challenge: Outdated GIS and disconnected middle-mile records 

Key outcome: Centralized records and cleaner field updates 

Challenge

As part of a larger GIS upgrade, DANC needed to modernize how its telecom group documented the middle-mile OATN network. Their platform, Enghouse NetDesigner, could not keep up with current Esri requirements. This slowed progress across all departments. To move forward, they needed a telecom-ready system that fit their Esri architecture and could support long-term growth.

 

Problem

The team needed to preserve existing records, continue collecting field data with Esri Field Maps and Trimble, and prepare for future system unification. The goal was to modernize without added complexity, giving telecom a stronger foundation for managing assets, documenting connectivity, and supporting open-access operations.
3-GIS demonstrated how their software could be customized and configured to meet our specific needs, and our data could be migrated to a new platform without losing any of the critical functionality that allows us to troubleshoot and maintain our network. Their support team has continued to assist in making sure that the 3-GIS platform serves as an excellent tool in the maintenance of our fiber optic network.
Nick Thomas
Supervisor of Outside Plant Engineering & Construction at DANC

Solution

The intuitive setup, guided data migration, and fiber-specific capabilities of 3-GIS | Web
made it a clear choice for DANC as they looked to modernize and scale their network.


Using 3‑GIS | Web, DANC can now:

  • Establish a centralized system of record for its middle‑mile network

  • Document ducts, cables, splice closures, and equipment with precision

  • Maintain compatibility with Esri environments across service areas

  • Import field data directly into a unified model for analysis and planning

 

Why they chose 3-GIS

  • Complete network oversight
  • Fully Esri-compatible
  • Accelerated documentation
  • Simplified recordkeeping
  • Easy to use
  • Ready to scale

Ready to get started?

Bring your fiber records together

Replace disconnected network records with a centralized environment built for cleaner data, stronger field updates, and more confident planning. 

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