Fiber infrastructure buildout continues across Livingston County,
expanding access to high-speed internet.
LIVINGSTON, NEW YORK – March 12, 2026 – Empire Fiber Internet, a leading fiber optic internet service provider serving communities across New York and Pennsylvania, announces continued progress on the Light Up Livingston broadband initiative. Service is already available in parts of Lima, Mount Morris, Dansville, and Nunda, NY, with ongoing expansion planned for thousands of additional homes and businesses throughout Livingston County, including portions of Springwater, Conesus, Ossian, Sparta, West Sparta, and Wayland, NY.
Construction of the Light Up Livingston network is actively progressing. The project’s fiber backbone is largely complete, with 68 miles of aerial fiber installed so far. Extending service lines to individual homes is expected to take place in the summer and fall of 2026. While significant work remains, crews will continue running additional lines and splicing lateral cables into the main fiber ring.
“We are proud to celebrate this milestone made possible through a strong public-private partnership,” said Shannon Hillier, Livingston County Administrator. “By working collaboratively, we’ve combined resources and a shared vision to continue expanding high-speed internet access to all communities in Livingston County. This partnership reflects what’s possible through aligning the public and private sectors around a common goal.”
The project is supported by a grant awarded to Livingston County through New York State’s ConnectALL Municipal Infrastructure Program and the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) ReConnect grant program. These partnerships represent a multi-million-dollar investment in the region’s digital future. Empire Fiber Internet is partnering with Livingston County, Hunt EAS, and other experienced providers to deliver 100% fiber optic network designed for reliability. Once complete, the project will significantly expand access to affordable, high-speed internet in previously underserved areas.
Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York is making historic investments to close the digital divide and ensure every community has access to reliable, high-speed internet. Projects like Light Up Livingston are expanding critical fiber infrastructure in rural communities, helping residents, businesses, and institutions stay connected and compete in today’s digital economy. Through strong partnerships with local governments and private providers, we are building a more connected and economically vibrant New York.”
“We’re excited to see the Light Up Livingston vision becoming a reality for more residents every day,” said Kevin Dickens, CEO of Empire Fiber Internet. “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 our network and deliver high-speed internet with its incredible, transformative power. We look forward to becoming part of the community and supporting residents and businesses as they connect, work, and grow.”
Livingston County residents can check their availability by visiting www.shop.empireaccess.com, and entering their address. They can also sign up to receive updates as the construction process continues.
Empire Fiber Internet delivers symmetrical upload and download speeds with enterprise level reliability, backed by 24/7/365 locally staffed customer support. Its fiber network is designed to be both affordable and future-ready, supporting evolving technology needs for years to come.
To learn more about Empire Fiber Internet, visit www.empireaccess.com.
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About Empire Fiber Internet
Founded in 1896 with a single telephone line in Prattsburgh, NY, Empire Fiber Internet has grown into a premier fiber internet provider, serving homes and businesses across New York and Pennsylvania. Empire Fiber Internet delivers dedicated 100% fiber connections with fast, reliable speeds, no data caps, transparent pricing, and internet options ranging from 500 Mbps to 2 Gig. With a focus on outstanding customer service and dependable performance, Empire Fiber Internet provides the flexibility and bandwidth customers need for streaming, working, gaming, and staying connected, without slowdowns. Learn more at www.empireaccess.com.
About Empire State Development
Empire State Development is New York’s chief economic development agency, and promotes business growth, job creation, and greater economic opportunity throughout the state. With offices in each of the state’s 10 regions, ESD oversees the Regional Economic Development Councils, supports broadband equity through the ConnectALL office, and is growing the workforce of tomorrow through the Office of Strategic Workforce Development. The agency engages with emerging and next generation industries like clean energy and semiconductor manufacturing looking to grow in New York State, operates a network of assistance centers to help small businesses grow and succeed, and promotes the state’s world class tourism destinations through I LOVE NY. For more information, please visit www.esd.ny.gov, and connect with ESD on LinkedIn, Facebook and X.
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