SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) has named the City of Syracuse a 2024 Digital Inclusion Trailblazer for its efforts to close the digital divide.
The distinction recognizes Syracuse’s commitment to digital inclusion, meaning its effort in providing access to affordable high-speed internet, devices, and digital-skills training. Syracuse also received this national recognition in 2023.
“Closing the digital divide is essential to achieving the Syracuse Surge mission of inclusive growth in the New Economy, and critical to our vision to make Syracuse a growing city that embraces diversity and creates opportunity for all,” Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh said in the announcement. “This recognition affirms our commitment and progress toward turning that vision into a tangible reality.”
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Syracuse joins 60 total awardees representing municipal, county, and regional governments. Syracuse is the only New York municipality that NDIA recognized, the city noted.
The nonprofit NDIA, which is based in Columbus, Ohio, says it advances digital equity by supporting community programs and “equipping policymakers to act.” Working with more than 1,900 digital-inclusion practitioners, NDIA advocates for equitable broadband access, tech devices, digital-skills training, and tech support.
Earning the status
NDIA Trailblazers “provide models for other local governments to aspire to as communities build digital inclusion ecosystems.” Syracuse achieved Trailblazer status by prioritizing digital inclusion for residents of its communities through allocating dedicated staff and funding resources to digital-inclusion programs and services.
It also implemented Surge Link, a municipal broadband program to provide low-cost internet access to Syracuse residents (currently available in southside neighborhoods with expansion plans in 2025 to the northside and valley).
In addition, the city collaborated with community centers to establish the digital-empowerment program, which provides digital-literacy training and technical assistance to Syracuse residents across the city; enabled residents to obtain free or low-cost laptops or tablets through participation in the digital-empowerment program or SurgeLink; and used data to inform digital-equity policies, per the announcement.
