Yorkshire County Council has entered into an agreement with Lit Fiber - York to provide fiber optic broadband services to underserved areas of the region.
The overall project will ultimately use up to 3,125 miles of aerial and underground fibre optic cable that will provide last-mile service over a 333-mile mid-mile network to communities where customer density is insufficient to support private capital investment .
Work will begin on the existing network 26 miles below the York Heritage Rail Trail - including the Seven Valleys, Glenrock, Railroad and New Freedom communities - using Coronavirus Assistance, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) funds to complete ) Act funding.
This initial project will result in fiber optic connections to approximately 3,000 locations. A county-owned mid-mile network covering 144 miles across most of South York County will then follow, bringing fiber to approximately 100,000 locations. The mid-mile network YoCo Fiber is planned to eventually extend to 333 miles and bring fiber to approximately 225,000 locations.
The $285 million project was launched in 2021 by Lit Fiber - York parent company Lit Communities to work with York County leaders to design and direct the first two phases of construction. Lit Fiber - York will serve as an Internet Service Provider (ISP) when service begins rolling out in the fourth quarter of this year. The initial project is expected to be completed within two years, with additional expansion projects to occur simultaneously.
York County Commissioners approved the use of up to $25 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act infrastructure funds, with the remainder coming from revenue sharing, other public funding sources and private investment from Lit Communities and its partners.
We are very excited about this partnership," said Lit Communities CEO Brian Snider. We are taking steps to close the digital divide in this part of the country by providing fiber optic Internet service. The network will provide reliable, affordable high Accelerated Internet for social and economic activities at home - such as teleworking, running a business, accessing government services, online banking, education, workforce and local economic development."
Joe Sassano, York County's Executive Director of Information Technology/CIO, added, "York County is advancing access to affordable, reliable, high-speed broadband services through this partnership."
York County Presidential Commissioner Julie Wheeler concluded, "We are pleased to take this important step in providing essential broadband Internet to the one in four residents of our county who lack such access. We'll also eventually add another premium option for those residents in areas that also enjoy competition with several other Internet service providers."
