SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — The city of Syracuse formally implemented a free broadband service Monday morning. The high-speed and secure internet will be available to hundreds of Syracuse residents who are income-eligible.
The service, called Surge Link, is being started with the help of $3.5 million in federal funding that the Syracuse Common Council authorized last year. The city is working with Community Broadband Networks, based in Geneva, to install a fixed wireless network in 10 city Census tracks on the south, southwest and west sides of the city Walsh said.
The plan for the broadband service is to connect at least 2,500 households in the initial 10 tracks during a three-year test period. City officials will then work with US Ignite, a national nonprofit that works with community-based telecommunications to determine how effective it is and how it will be launched across the rest of the city.
Syracuse residents who already receive public assistance through programs like SNAP, WIC, SSI or Medicaid are eligible for the free broadband.
