SCRANTON – The city is partnering with Verizon to make fiber-optic, high-speed internet access available throughout the city, Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti announced Wednesday.
She praised the Biden administration and Congress for investing in and expanding broadband internet projects. Access to reliable and affordable high-speed internet is as essential as any other utility, officials said.
The partnership means Verizon’s fiber-optic, 1 gigabit (GB) high-speed Internet access will be available in every neighborhood, improving Internet speeds for remote work, distance learning, telemedicine, downloading, uploading, voice and video communications and live streaming. , webcasts and interactive games.
“Broadband, as we know, is not a luxury. It’s a utility. It is a necessity,” Cognetti said during a media event in Nay Aug Park to announce and recognize the partnership with Verizon. “We can now ensure broadband has broad reach, not just in Scranton, but in every home.”
The partnership comes as the city sought proposals a year ago for a “broadband infrastructure project” for fiber optic cable and broadband services throughout the city.
Four vendors – Verizon, Gigapower, Loop and Empire – responded. Cognetti’s government chose Verizon.
Last month, the Scranton City Council unanimously approved a resolution from Cognetti authorizing the city to contract with Verizon for the broadband project, which has already begun in parts of the city.
Verizon will build a “Fiber to the Premises” (FTTP) network to reach all broadband locations in the city that can reasonably be served by a fiber optic connection, according to a statement from the city.
“With Verizon’s investment, we can continue to deliver fiber optic internet access to the driveway and ultimately bridge Scranton’s digital divide,” Cognetti said during the media event.
The cost of the project will be covered by Verizon and no city funding will be required.
Verizon will invest tens of millions of dollars over the next three years to expand its internet service in the city, said Eric Reed, Verizon’s senior director of public policy and state government affairs for Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and Ohio.
“Today is an important and successful day in terms of presenting a successful example of how public and private interests can work together,” Reed said at the announcement event. “Broadband expansion and digital inclusion are part of our DNA and the work we do every day to serve our local residents and businesses as they create improved digitally connected communities. At Verizon, we amplify and amplify the way people live, work and play.”
The project includes digging trenches to install fiber optic lines and upgrading existing overhead infrastructure on utility poles, Reed said.
“Verizon will expand its fiber footprint throughout Scranton and upon completion we will have upgraded existing infrastructure to fiber,” Reed said.
Residents will have the option to subscribe to Verizon for high-speed fiber optic internet. The contract with the city also requires Verizon to participate in the Affordable Connectivity Program, a follow-on program, or offer its own low-cost program to eligible low-income households in the city. Verizon currently offers cost-effective services to eligible customers through the Fios Forward program with service levels ranging up to $39.99. Other Fios Home Internet plans range between $24.99 and $89.99 per month.
As to why such a partnership was necessary, Cognetti said, “It is important that the city and Verizon work together and that we prioritize Verizon’s project. They are going to do this, we know that because of the partnership we have, for everyone in Scranton, everywhere: ubiquitous high-speed internet.”
“What we had to do as a city was make sure it went to places that weren’t necessarily the money makers, not necessarily the highest paying customers, outside of the hospitals and universities that they (Verizon) know are there. will generate revenue from,” Cognetti continued. “As a city, we have to ensure that everyone in the city gets that. That’s the promise Verizon is making.”
Reed also said the partnership is “about closing a digital divide” and promoting “digital inclusion,” and that it is the right thing to do and good public policy.
“This was very intentional. We didn’t want to go into the city and pick neighborhoods,” Reed said of the partnership. “That’s why we came to town and asked what your interests are, what your needs are. And then we combined them with what our wishes were in terms of investments in the network. Once we figured that out, that formula was taken care of and we were able to start investing all over the city and make sure it was intentional.
