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Empire Access and the Light Up Livingston Project
Access to reliable high-speed internet continues to be an important part of everyday life for residents, businesses, students, farms, and organizations throughout Livingston County. Through the Light Up Livingston project, Empire Access is working in partnership with Livingston County to expand fiber internet access to more homes and businesses across the region.
Empire Access, a fiber internet provider serving communities in New York and Pennsylvania, is part of a public-private effort to bring fiber optic infrastructure to areas of Livingston County that have historically faced limited broadband options. Service is currently available in communities including Lima, Mount Morris, Dansville, and Nunda, with expansion planned for additional areas such as Springwater, Conesus, Ossian, Sparta, West Sparta, and Wayland.
The Light Up Livingston network is currently under construction, with 68 miles of aerial fiber already installed. As the project continues, the next phase includes extending service lines to individual homes and businesses, with the goal of increasing access to high-speed internet throughout the county.
The project is supported in part by funding from New York State’s ConnectALL Municipal Infrastructure Program and the USDA ReConnect grant program. These programs are designed to help expand broadband infrastructure and address gaps in internet access, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
Fiber internet can provide symmetrical upload and download speeds, reliable connectivity, and the capacity to support multiple users and devices at the same time. For businesses, farms, remote workers, students, and households, improved broadband access can support everything from online sales and digital operations to virtual meetings, streaming, education, healthcare access, and everyday communication.
Kevin Dickens, CEO of Empire Access, noted the company’s ongoing work in the county, stating, “Our team is hard at work extending our fiber network throughout Livingston County. These communities are the driving force behind our continued efforts to expand and deliver high-speed internet.”
The Livingston County Chamber of Commerce recently hosted Empire Access sales representative Mike Polland on June 9 at the Chamber office for an informational workshop on the Light Up Livingston initiative. The session included an overview of the project, a discussion on the benefits of fiber internet, and information about how fiber service differs from other internet options available to residents and businesses.
Empire Access is also scheduled to participate in several upcoming community events, including the Crossroads Festival in Lima, PumpkinFest, Open Farm Day, and other appearances throughout the summer. These events will provide opportunities for residents to ask questions, learn more about fiber internet, check availability, and receive updates as construction progresses.
Residents and businesses interested in learning more can check service availability by visiting empirefiber.com and entering their address. Additional information about the Light Up Livingston project and Empire Access’s partnership with Livingston County can also be found on the Empire Access blog.