“This would not be perfect, but it would be better,” Little said, indicating a likely reduction in the distance of spotty cell service from 10 miles to four or five miles.

The three towers will cover the “dead” area where most accidents happen, Sayward said.

“That was one of our main concerns, to cover the worst area; I call it the dark zone.”

Independent Tower Company is working with the Adirondack Park Agency now to site the towers.

APA will accept a December-to-April time frame for “temporary,” Little said, in part because the permanent plan is moving steadily forward.

SUBSIDIZED SERVICE

In addition, Gov. Eliot Spitzer and the Department of State have said they would release the $1 million earmarked for emergency cell service on I-87, Little said.

It would cost about $300,000 to subsidize service for three towers for five months, Little said.

“There would be no charge to phone companies. We are waiting to hear if the state (Homeland Security) is going to be a co-applicant on the project.”

A plan established in 2002 by Crown Communications with 42 towers along I-87 would have cost phone companies much more — $2,000 per month to rent a repeater location, Little said.

That plan fell through.

In addition, the newly restored Mountain Lakes Communication tower on Lyon Mountain is being eyed as a good height for a Northway signal.

“We’ll have to see,” Little said, putting a tentative December date on installation.