High-speed internet connections arrive in Port Byron and Savannah, New York
New, faster speeds impact more than 1,250 addresses
Internet speeds of up to 100Mbps are now available to more than 1,250 home and business addresses in the Port Byron and Savannah areas. The upgraded fiber-to-the-home internet service comes thanks to the completion of two grant-supported network improvement projects. Both projects were funded by TDS Telecom (TDS®) and the New NY Broadband Program.
“The Port Byron and Savannah project launch is a landmark for these communities and also for TDS,” says Scott Brooks, state government affairs manager for TDS. “This marks the first time these faster, more reliable speeds are available in these areas and it also marks the completion of our final New NY Broadband grant. It’s been a great partnership with consumers coming out the winner.”
The multi-phase grant project to deliver up to 100Mbps internet was awarded to TDS for addresses within its Port Byron Telephone Company footprint. Impacted communities in the Port Byron exchange include: Conquest, Montezuma, Port Byron, Spring Lake, Hejemada, Mays Point, Duck Lake, Emerson, and Mosquito Point. Impacted communities in the Savannah exchange include the Town of Butler and the Town of Savannah.
The project, which has been in the works for more than two years, included installing more than 113 miles of fiber-optic cable and upgrading a variety of back-end system equipment. The state-of-the-art fiber infrastructure now delivers Internet speeds from 25Mbps to 100Mbps.
“We congratulate TDS Telecom on its expansion of high-speed internet service in partnership with the Broadband Program Office,” said Jeffrey Nordhaus, Empire State Development Executive Vice President of Innovation and Broadband. “Broadband is a necessity for all communities in today’s economy and this launch will bring broadband to more than 1,000 locations in the Finger Lakes and the Mohawk Valley.”
TDS was awarded nine grants worth approximately $21.4 million statewide as part of the New NY Broadband Program and TDS is investing more than $13 million. In addition to its two Port Byron Telephone projects, TDS has completed grants in its Deposit Telephone Company, Edwards Telephone Company, and Township Telephone Company footprints.
About the New NY Broadband Program
In 2015, New York State established the $500 million New NY Broadband Program, the largest and most ambitious State broadband investment in the nation. The Program provides New York State grant funding to support projects that deliver high-speed Internet access to Unserved and Underserved areas of the State, with priority given to Unserved areas, libraries and educational opportunity centers. The Broadband Program Office at Empire State Development, New York’s chief economic development agency, administers the program.
About TDS Telecom
Since 1973, TDS has been providing customers in New York with telecommunications services. For more details about TDS’ service, including the newly available 1Gig service, visit tdstelecom.com or call 888-CALL-TDS.
