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SOUTHERN TIER NETWORK INC
CORNING, NY · EIN 274516734 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE S30 · Community Improvement · Medium ($1M-$10M) · southerntiernetwork.org
revenue
$3.4M
expenses
$3.1M
net assets
$9.6M
employees
5
volunteers
15
program ratio
81%
mission · from form 990

THROUGH PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, THE SOUTHERN TIER NETWORK (STN) STRIVES TO ENRICH THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN REGIONS WE SERVE BY PROVIDING HIGH SPEED BROADBAND CONNECTIONS VIA A QUALITY OPEN ACCESS MODEL.

profile · synthesized from sources

Southern Tier Network (STN) is a nonprofit organization based in Corning, NY, focused on expanding access to affordable broadband through public-private partnerships. It builds and operates open-access fiber networks across eight counties in the Southern Tier region of New York, providing high-speed connectivity to support economic development, public safety, and community services. The network is built on Corning’s SMF-28 fiber and supports 5G, IoT, and smart city applications.

named programs · 3 · from sources

What they call their work

ConnectALL Program Implementation
Deploys state-funded broadband infrastructure in underserved areas such as the Town of Nichols, constructing 35-mile open-access networks to close the digital divide.
Open-Access Broadband Network
Builds and leases dark fiber infrastructure to telecom carriers, ISPs, and public institutions across eight Southern Tier counties using Corning’s SMF-28 fiber, enabling high-speed connectivity and future-proofed network solutions.
Small Business Growth Program
Partnership program offering free online business assessments and personalized scorecards to help small and medium-sized businesses in Chemung, Schuyler, and Steuben Counties improve competitiveness through better use of internet tools.
activities · 3 groups

What they do

  • Community Broadband Infrastructure Development 3 activities
    • Builds and operates open-access fiber network infrastructure
      Constructs, installs, and maintains a high-capacity fiber optic network across eight counties in the Southern Tier region of New York, using Corning SMF-28 single-mode fiber with over 144 fibers per cable and speeds exceeding 100 Gbps. Operates under an open-access model to provide broadband connectivity for rural communities, businesses, and institutions.
    • Extends fiber internet access to residential customers
      Provides high-speed fiber internet access to residential households in underserved rural areas, beginning with the ConnectALL broadband expansion program in the Town of Nichols, Tioga County, NY—a 35-mile infrastructure project aimed at closing the digital divide.
    • Provides dark and lit fiber connectivity for enterprise clients
      Offers dark fiber leasing and lit fiber services to enterprise clients including businesses, healthcare facilities, schools, financial institutions, manufacturers, government agencies, and carriers. Services include scalable, secure, and redundant fiber connections engineered for high reliability, data protection, and customized network control, with lease terms typically ranging from 10 to 20 years.
  • Flexible Grants to Grassroots Organizations 1 activity
    • Funds rural broadband feasibility studies
      Awards grant funding to support rural broadband planning initiatives, such as a feasibility study in Nobles County, Minnesota, to assess the need for and viability of high-speed internet infrastructure.
  • Startup Acceleration & Business Growth Support 1 activity
    • Supports small business digital development
      Offers a Small Business Growth Program that includes an online assessment, complimentary Scorecard report comparing internet use with industry peers, and one-on-one assistance to help businesses improve digital capabilities and financial performance.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$3.37M
Contributions & grants$681K20%
Program service revenue$2.09M62%
Investment income$438K13%
Other revenue$158K
expenses
Total expenses$3.06M
Program expenses81%
Admin / overhead19%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$715K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$30.23M
Cash$6.63M
Investments$2.76M
Liabilities$20.64M
Net assets$9.59M
Liquid reserves36.9 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +8.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 3
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
JEFFREY GASPER CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 40 $351K
PATRICK MILLER DIRECTOR OF BROADBAND SERVICES 40 $158K
BENJAMIN RYDZEWSKI OPERATIONS MANAGER 40 $133K
board members · 15
  • AARON DOWD — DIRECTOR
  • ALAN EUSDEN — DIRECTOR
  • CARL HAYDEN — DIRECTOR
  • CHELSEA ROBERTSON — VICE CHAIR
  • DAVID HOPKINS — DIRECTOR
  • HOWARD ZINGLER — DIRECTOR
  • JACK WHEELER — SECRETARY
  • JAMES OSBORN — DIRECTOR
  • JESSICA MULLINS — DIRECTOR
  • JOHN SHARKEY — DIRECTOR
  • JUDITH G MCINTOSH — DIRECTOR
  • M SHAWN ROSNO — DIRECTOR
  • MARCIA WEBER — CHAIR
  • PATRICIA WAHBA — TREASURER
  • STEPHEN WILBER — DIRECTOR
relationships · 28

Who they work with

  • Allegany County Government — Partner county included in the expanded Southern Tier Network alliance.
  • Blandin Foundation Funder — Provided grant funding for a rural broadband feasibility study in Nobles County.
  • Broome County Government — Partner county included in the expanded Southern Tier Network alliance.
  • Carriers Partner — Provides dark fiber network infrastructure to support carrier network expansion and service deployment.
  • Chemung County Government — Founding county partner in the public-private alliance.
  • ConnectALL Government — Partnering with the New York state ConnectALL program to implement broadband infrastructure in rural communities.
  • ConnectAll Partner — Partner organization collaborating on broadband expansion initiatives in the Southern Tier.
  • Corning Incorporated Partner — Founding partner providing SMF-28 single-mode fiber technology for the network infrastructure.
  • Department of Defense Government — Supports businesses that work with the Department of Defense in meeting cybersecurity compliance standards.
  • Finley Engineering Partner — Conducted a broadband feasibility study, applied for state grants, and engineered and oversaw construction of the broadband network.
  • Hornell Industrial Development Agency Partner — Cooperative partner in offering the Small Business Growth Program to local businesses.
  • Ithaca Voice Partner — Collaborates on public communication and dissemination of information regarding broadband expansion efforts.
  • Lismore Cooperative Telephone Company Partner — Partnered with Nobles County to fund, construct, and operate a hybrid fiber and fixed wireless broadband network.
  • New York State Government — Partner in implementing the ConnectALL broadband expansion program in the Town of Nichols.
  • New York State Government — Partner in the ConnectALL broadband expansion program.
  • SCOPED Partner — Cooperative partner in offering the Small Business Growth Program to local businesses.
  • Schuyler County Government — Founding county partner in the public-private alliance.
  • Southern Tier Central Regional Planning and Development Board Partner — Founding public-private partner in the creation of Southern Tier Network.
  • Southern Tier Economic Growth Partner — Cooperative partner in offering the Small Business Growth Program to local businesses.
  • Steuben County Government — Founding county partner in the public-private alliance.
  • Steuben County Industrial Development Agency Partner — Cooperative partner in offering the Small Business Growth Program to local businesses.
  • Strategic Networks Group Partner — Program partner that provides personalized Scorecard reports to participating businesses.
  • Three Rivers Development Corporation Partner — Cooperative partner in offering the Small Business Growth Program to local businesses.
  • Tioga County Government — Partner county included in the expanded Southern Tier Network alliance.
  • Tompkins County Government — Partner county included in the expanded Southern Tier Network alliance.
  • Yates County Government — Partner county included in the expanded Southern Tier Network alliance.
  • local internet provider Partner — Partners with local internet providers to deliver service over the STN fiber network.
  • public/private partners Partner — Collaborates with public and private sector entities to provide high-speed broadband connections.
strategies · 3

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Broadband as Economic Development Infrastructure
    methodology: broadband_for-economic-development
    By treating broadband deployment as foundational public infrastructure, we stimulate regional economic development and improve public services because reliable connectivity enables business growth, digital transformation, and access to modern services.
  • Hybrid Infrastructure Expansion Strategy
    methodology: hybrid_fiber_fixed_wireless
    By combining fiber with fixed wireless—using fiber backhaul for reliability—we extend broadband to rural areas where full fiber is not yet feasible, because this hybrid approach accelerates deployment and generates early revenue to fund long-term fiber buildout.
  • Open-Access Broadband Model
    methodology: open_access_broadband_model
    By deploying shared fiber infrastructure that allows multiple internet service providers to compete, we increase affordability, consumer choice, and service quality in underserved regions because competition drives innovation and lowers prices.