Mayor Walsh Launches Surge Link Broadband Expansion
Published on July 08, 2025
$10.8 Million from Governor Hochul’s ConnectALL Initiative Supports Surge Link Expansion in Underserved Syracuse Neighborhoods
Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh announced the expansion of Surge Link—the City of Syracuse municipal broadband service—which can now serve more than 9,200 additional households in Syracuse. The project is part of a $15 million investment in fixed-wireless access broadband infrastructure by the City to increase access to affordable home internet for Syracuse residents in neighborhoods that have fewer alternatives for high-speed internet service.
Syracuse’s award-winning Surge Link internet service was piloted in October 2023 in neighborhoods on the city’s southwest side with the lowest rates of home internet access in the city. The recent expansion brings Surge Link to new parts of the city including the: Valley, Skunk City, Washington Square, Northside, Prospect Hill and Hawley-Green. The new areas were prioritized for having lower utilization of residential broadband service, along with higher rates of poverty and unemployment and barriers to educational attainment. The expansion is made possible through a $10.8 million grant from Governor Kathy Hochul's ConnectALL Municipal Infrastructure Program, which represents the state's largest-ever investment in municipal broadband initiatives designed to eliminate digital divides in underserved communities.
"Access to reliable, affordable broadband is no longer a luxury, it is a necessity for education, healthcare, employment, and civic participation," said Mayor Walsh. "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.”
Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, "Syracuse's Surge Link expansion represents exactly the kind of innovative, community-centered approach that drives real economic development. Thanks to Governor Hochul's bold vision and the transformative ConnectALL initiative, we're proud to partner with Mayor Walsh and the City of Syracuse to bring affordable broadband to neighborhoods that have been underserved. This investment will unlock new opportunities for workforce development and entrepreneurship while ensuring thousands more residents have the high-speed internet access they need to pursue education, find jobs, access health care, and participate fully in the digital economy."
The City partners with Community Broadband Networks, LLC to provide residents with affordable internet service, which offers 100 Mbps symmetric service at $14.99 per month for low-income households and $36.99 for other subscribers. The service package includes in-home Wi-Fi with professional setup, and all necessary equipment with no additional rental fees for modem or router. Subscribers benefit from month-to-month service with no annual contract requirements, no data caps, and local 24x7 customer service. To subscribe residents can go to syracusesurgelink.com.
“The Surge Link network expansion is not just about bringing internet to people’s homes — it’s about bringing opportunity and connection to every corner of Syracuse,” said James Orioli, CBN America LLC. “Through the NY ConnectALL Municipal Infrastructure Program, we are changing lives. Each new connection brings more than just access — it brings smiles, hope, and the promise of a more inclusive digital future.”
Surge Link is a signature initiative of the Syracuse Surge, the city’s strategy for inclusive growth in the New Economy. The Syracuse Surge, announced by Mayor Walsh in 2019, has catalyzed hundreds of millions in new investment to add new tech-centered jobs, workforce training and education programs, and promote entrepreneurship—with an emphasis on providing opportunities for more Syracuse residents. Other signature projects include the expansion of the INSPYRE Innovation Hub and the STEAM High School, which will both open in 2025 on S. Warren St.