Empire Fiber Internet brings high-speed fiber to 2,000 Steuben County households

14 articles · Updated · the-leader.com · Apr 29

The expansion covers Avoca, Birdseye Hollow, Caton, Hornby, Howard, and Savona, funded partly by American Rescue Plan Act funds and Steuben County.
Residents in these rural areas now gain reliable internet for remote work, online learning, and streaming, with symmetrical speeds up to 2 gigabits per second and 24/7 local support.
Empire Fiber Internet also invests in local workforce development, participating in school career days and supporting career programming to prepare students for technology sector opportunities.

Beyond connecting homes, how will this fiber network generate measurable, long-term jobs and tax revenue for the local economy?

Federal BEAD program funds now have a surplus. How could this surplus directly tackle internet affordability for rural residents?

New York mandates affordable internet plans. How easily can eligible Steuben County families actually access these required low-cost options?

How will ubiquitous high-speed internet change the social dynamics and unique culture of these small, rural New York towns?

With public funds backing one provider, what prevents a local monopoly and ensures competitive pricing for residents in the future?

What specific, long-term career pathways is the company creating for the local workforce beyond a single school career day?