SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh announced the expansion of the city’s broadband service, Surge Link, on Tuesday.
Mayor Walsh said it can now serve more than 9,200 households in Syracuse. The new expansion brings service to the Valley, Skunk City, Washington Square, Northside, Prospect Hill and Hawley-Green neighborhoods.
Walsh said that these were prioritized due to them having lower utilization of residential broadband service and higher rates of poverty and unemployment, as well as barriers to educational attainment.
The expansion was made possible through a $10.8 million grant from the ConnectALL Municipal Infrastructure program. The $1 billion initiative seeks to deliver affordable broadband services throughout parks of New York State.
Governor Kathy Hochul said the COVID-19 Pandemic showed how crucial a reliable internet connection was when many people in New York State were forced to work from home to contain the spread of the virus. The ConnectALL initiative was announced by Governor Hochul in 2022.
Mayor Walsh called the expansion of Surge Link a necessity in a news release.
“By bringing Surge Link to these key neighborhoods, we are ensuring that Syracuse residents have the tools they need to thrive in the digital economy,” he said.
Surge Link offers 100 Mbps symmetric service at $14.99 per month for low-income households and $36.99 for other subscribers. Per the mayor’s office, it comes with in-home Wi-Fi with professional setup, and all necessary equipment with no additional rental fees for modem or router.
Residents seeking to subscribe to the service can do so at this link.