3G service coming to an end, new area code in the works and more

What's new in the Upper Delaware region February 3 to 9

Posted 2/1/22

What's new in the Upper Delaware region February 3 to 9

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3G service coming to an end, new area code in the works and more

What's new in the Upper Delaware region February 3 to 9

Posted

Gas disruption highlights community support and infrastructure needs

MILFORD, PA — The mechanical failure at a UGI transfer station left over 1,379 homes and businesses in Milford without heat on Thursday, January 27. By Saturday, only 18 homes and businesses still lacked heat. The event showed how a community can come together to care for its members in an emergency, and how vulnerable our infrastructure is. For the full story, click here.

3G service coming to an end

MONTICELLO, NY — Sullivan County, including its Office for the Aging, is alerting citizens to the fact that their 3G cellphones and other devices may no longer work in the coming months as technology companies transition to supporting only the 4G and the new 5G signals.

The FCC posted a notice stating that 3G networks are slated to be shut down completely at various points this year, depending on the carrier. Sullivan County and the FCC encourage 3G users (or those who are unsure of the signal type their device uses) to contact their service provider for more detailed information.

“People should be aware too that more than cellphones could be affected,” said Office for the Aging director Lise-Ann Deoul. “The FCC has cautioned that certain medical devices, tablets, smartwatches, vehicle SOS services and home security systems may be impacted. The best option for unsure users is to get in touch with their service provider.”

Wayne Memorial to temporarily close selected satellite sites

HONESDALE, PA — Due to staffing challenges, Wayne Memorial Hospital will close its Forest City outpatient laboratory site as of Monday, January 31. The following Monday, February 7, its outpatient laboratory in Tafton, next to Pinnacle Family Health, will also close. The family health centers adjacent to both sites will remain open. The closures are expected to be temporary, as the hospital brings on new staff and trains them to work in the laboratory.

Senate passes new funding for hospitals, health care workers

HARRISBURG, PA — The state Senate has approved critical funding for hospitals and frontline health care workers who continue to keep Pennsylvanians safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Sen. Lisa Baker (R-20). House Bill 253 would allocate a total of $225 million to hospitals and their employees. According to the bill’s estimated funding distribution, Wayne Memorial Hospital is set to receive $766,138.

COVID-19 test site closed at SUNY Sullivan

LOCH SHELDRAKE, NY — SUNY Sullivan’s community COVID-19 testing site on campus is closed until further notice, due to a vendor  staffing issue at the laboratory. The college apologized for any inconvenience to the community and will send further updates if and when the testing site reopens. For more information, call 315/614-2325.

Update: according to the SUNY Sullivan Facebook page, the testing site was closed briefly, Mon.–Tues., 1/31-2/1, due to a Quadrant staffing issue that was unrelated to COVID cases.

Fate of New York State mask mandate uncertain

NASSAU COUNTY, NY — On January 24, the Supreme Court of Nassau County issued a ruling in a case brought against a December 13, 2021 determination from New York State’s acting commissioner of health, a determination that required masks to be worn in all indoor places by all persons age two and up who are able to medically tolerate a mask. The court ruled the determination to be an overreach of executive power, and declared it void and unenforceable. That following day, the New York Supreme Court Appellate Division, Second Department granted the attorney general’s office’s motion to stay the decision, allowing the mask mandate to continue to be enforced, pending appeal.

DRBC to hold first-quarter public hearing

UPPER DELAWARE REGION — The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) will hold its first-quarter public hearing on Wednesday, February 9, beginning at 1:30 p.m.

Items to be heard at the public hearing include 16 draft dockets for withdrawals, discharges and other projects that could have a substantial effect on the basin’s water resources. One such docket, from the Town of Fallsburg, is an application to approve a withdrawal of up to 14.73 million gallons per month (mgm) of groundwater from new well Fallsburg No. 8 and up to 3.67 mgm of groundwater from new well Hurleyville No. 2R for use in the applicant’s existing public water supply system and to increase the total groundwater allocation from 143.94 mgm to 151.46 mgm from the new wells and 15 other existing wells.

For information on the upcoming dockets, as well as information on how to attend and give comments at the public hearing, visit https://www.nj.gov/drbc/meetings/upcoming/#4.

Public comment sought on potential new area code in 845 region

ALBANY, NY — The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) is considering a petition filed on November 30, 2021, by the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA) to relieve a forecasted shortage of telephone numbers by adding a new telephone area code within those areas that are currently covered by the 845-area code. All existing telephone customers in the overlay area would retain their current 845 area code and telephone numbers. The new area code would cover requests for new phone numbers.

Comments can be submitted online at https://dps.ny.gov; click on “Search” and enter 21-C-0600 in the “Search by Case Number” field, and then click on “Post Comments” at the top right of the page. Comments can also be submitted by email to the secretary of the Public Service Commission at secretary@dps.ny.gov, and they can be submitted by mail addressed to the Hon. Michelle L. Phillips, Secretary, New York State Public Service Commission, 3 Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223-1350. Comments can also be submitted through a toll-free opinion line at 800/335-2120; all submitted comments should refer to Case 21-C-0600.

Correction: An earlier version of these briefs reported that the Milford gas disruption was a gas rupture; as of 1:30 p.m., February 2, 2022, this has been corrected. See the full version of the Milford gas disruption story for more information.

gas rupture, Milford, 3G signals, cellphones, phone coverage, Wayne Memorial Hospital, laboratory sites, pandemic relief, Pennsylvania State Senate, SUNY Sullivan, COVID-19 testing, mask mandates, Delaware River Basin Commission, public hearing, Fallsburg water supply, 845-area code, telephone numbers, public comment

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