Empire Access expands service area in the Southern Tier

Empire Access Corp. is continuing its push to bring fiber-optic internet service across the Southern Tier.

The Prattsburgh (Steuben County)–based company is in the midst of a strategic expansion of service into Endicott and Endwell, bringing its broadband service to those communities.

“We’ve been growing our company now for the past 10 years,” Empire Access CEO Jim Baase says. Initially, the company focused its growth on more densely populated areas closer to home. Of late, the company has turned its attention to more rural communities that often lack reliable, fast internet service.

Having grown from 8,000 to 30,000 customers in the past decade, Empire Access also needs to look a little further afield to continue that growth. “We see the Endicott and Endwell–Greater Binghamton areas as a good market to continue that growth,” Baase says.

Empire Access is building out its network on existing utility poles. The lengthy process begins with getting the required approvals before moving on to the actual installation. Empire Access began the process more than a year ago and plans to ramp up construction this month.

“We’ve launched parts of it already and we’ve had good response,” he says. The Town of Vestal is a customer and a number of businesses have signed on for the 1-gigabyte service Empire Access sells for $50 a month. “We provide competition,” Baase adds, noting that competitors often lower their prices with Empire Access comes to town. “In the 10 years we’ve been doing this, we haven’t raised our price.”

Instead, Empire Access makes its money by volume – gaining customers – and that will cover the cost of expansion, he says. “More people today don’t want cable; they want fast reliable internet.”

Empire Access is using a variety of means to let people know it is coming to town, Baase says. It starts right where workers are installing the new fiber-optic lines. The construction crews all carry flyers they can hand out to anyone looking for more information.

“We’ll do some radio and TV down in Binghamton,” Baase adds. “I think we’re gaining that name recognition.”

The company is already looking ahead to future expansion, with announced plans in Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, and Williamsport, Pennsylvania. It is also looking to build out more in areas adjacent to existing service areas, Baase says. With the state expected to continue to provide funding to improve rural service, Empire Access will continue to expand in the Binghamton market, he adds. The company is also working with county governments in Livingston, Yates, and Montgomery counties in New York to bring service to those areas.

He expects work for the Endicott and Endwell expansion to wrap up by October, bringing service to potential customers in 12,000 homes between the two communities. 

With the expansion project, Empire Access now serves Binghamton, Rochester, Elmira, Geneva, Corning, Hornell, Vestal, Bath, Geneseo, Watkins Glen, Fairport, Penn Yan, and Hamilton as well as Mansfield and Sayre, Pennsylvania. 

Antin Infrastructures Partners, with offices in New York, London, and Paris, acquired Empire Access in January 2023. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.