Livingston County announced on March 10 that it is making progress on the Light Up Livingston broadband project, which aims to bring high-speed internet access to every address in the county. The current phase of the initiative is expanding service to thousands of homes and businesses in Livonia, Lima, Mount Morris, Nunda, and Springwater.
The expansion of reliable internet is considered important for connecting rural communities and supporting economic growth. The project’s fiber backbone is nearly finished, with 68 miles of aerial fiber already installed. Officials expect that service lines will begin reaching individual homes during the summer and fall of 2026. Until then, crews will continue installing additional lines and splicing cables into the main fiber ring.
“We are proud to celebrate this milestone made possible through a strong public private partnership,” said County Administrator Shannon Hillier. “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 Light Up Livingston project is funded by grants from New York State’s ConnectALL Municipal Infrastructure Program and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s ReConnect grant program. These funds represent a multi-million dollar investment in digital infrastructure for the region. The county has partnered with Empire Fiber Internet; Hunt Engineers, Architects & Surveyors; and other providers to build a fully fiber optic network designed for reliability.
“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.”
Once completed, Light Up Livingston will provide high-speed fiber internet to thousands of locations across rural areas in the county. The project aims to improve access not only for households but also for education, healthcare services, public safety agencies, and local businesses.
