Syracuse Sun

The City of Syracuse has been selected as a recipient of the New York State Conference of Mayors (NYCOM) Local Government Achievement Award for 2024. This marks the 35th year of the awards program, which recognized Syracuse for its efforts to expand equitable broadband access through its Surge Link™ program.

NYCOM President Kathy M. Sheehan, who also serves as Mayor of the City of Albany, commended Syracuse on this achievement. She stated: “I want to commend the City of Syracuse for developing and implementing this outstanding initiative that will bring broadband to more of its residents. This increased connectivity for the City’s most vulnerable populations will improve educational opportunities, access to vital services and economic prosperity for residents and small businesses alike. This is truly transformational and I congratulate Mayor Walsh on addressing this crucial issue of equitable internet connectivity.”

Historically, most parts of Syracuse have been served by a single internet provider, leading to limited market offerings and generally higher prices for home internet services. Data from the 2022 U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) showed that approximately 24% of Syracuse households lacked reliable access to broadband Internet.

In October 2023, Syracuse launched enrollment for Surge Link™ with an aim to reach 2,500 lower-income households in three city neighborhoods with low internet subscription rates by the end of 2024. The city is currently on track to meet this timeline. The initial investment in this project amounts to $3.5 million and is funded using Syracuse's American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money.

The award will be presented at NYCOM’s Annual Meeting in Bolton Landing on May 16th. NYCOM represents 575 cities and villages in New York State and has been operational since 1910.