Greenlight Networks is expanding its fiber internet service in the city of Rochester.
Mayor Lovely Warren joined Greenlight CEO Mark Murphy to announce that a Master License Agreement has been reached, under the city’s telecommunications code, which will allow for Greenlight to build upon its network that currently reaches around 11,000 city households.
Warren says another 1,200 will be added this year, and thousands more in 2021.
“A major goal of our new telecommunications code was to expand access to high speed internet across our city, which will attract new businesses,” Warren said. “And that in turn helped us create more jobs, safer more vibrant neighborhoods, and better educational opportunities for our children."
Greenlight CEO Mark Murphy says they’re working with the city to identify the areas where they can do the most good and help bridge the digital divide.
``With this pandemic that we’re all living through, there is no more vital link to the outside world,” Murphy said. “Whether it’s people working or learning at home. Or finding a way to entertain themselves than over broadband internet.”
Murphy says the company is coordinating with the city to expand its network during upcoming road construction projects. The city says it has also agreed to help Greenlight in community outreach efforts to obtain easements from city residents to facilitate the company’s network expansion efforts.
Greenlight plans to restart construction in the Park Avenue and Harper Street area this summer, and it expects to complete its work in the city in three years.