Syracuse to pilot municipal broadband with American Rescue Plan Act funds

Syracuse, NY, is requesting proposals for the design, implementation, and maintenance of a municipal broadband network. The pilot program, which will be paid for through American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, aims to help bridge the digital divide by providing affordable internet for low-income residents, while also supporting smart city applications. Over a quarter of Syracuse households lack internet access and nearly 45 percent lack access to internet speeds needed to support multiple users. The pilot network should offer speeds of at least 100 megabits per second (Mbps) and will target households in census tracts with the lowest rates of internet access. Syracuse received $123 million overall in ARPA funding and the amount that will be allocated to the broadband pilot will depend on proposals received. The city will look to expand community broadband in the future with additional federal and state funding, and part of the RFP requirement is for a scalable solution with a sustainable financial model. The city will consider a model where it owns the infrastructure or shares ownership with a partner.